Smart vs. clever: what’s the difference?
The short answer
While smart can refer more generally to intelligence, appearance, or technological advancements, clever specifically emphasizes ingenuity, creativity, and quick thinking, sometimes with a connotation of cunning.
What they have in common
Both smart and clever are adjectives used to describe someone who is intelligent, quick-witted, and capable of understanding or learning quickly.
Examples
smart
- She is very smart and always gets top grades in her class.
- The new smartphone has a lot of smart features.
- He looked smart in his tailored suit at the meeting.
clever
- The magician performed a clever trick that amazed the audience.
- She came up with a clever solution to fix the broken machine.
- The thief was clever enough to bypass the high-tech security system.
Which one is more common?
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