smart 1 of 4

adjective

ˈsmärt How to pronounce smart (audio)
Definition of smartnext
1
as in intelligent
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment a smart investment that has really paid off

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2
as in clever
having or showing quickness of mind a smart child who will do well in school

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3
as in witty
given to or marked by mature intelligent humor something one sees so rarely on TV: a smart sitcom

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4
as in elegant
being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance dressed in their smart new uniforms, the cadets proudly paraded around the grounds of the military school

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5
as in stylish
being in the latest or current fashion boutiques specializing in smart clothes for cosmopolitan women

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6
as in cute
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred just joked and made smart comments during the ceremony

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7
as in sophisticated
having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience a novelist who got much of the material for his works by hanging out with the smart set

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smart

2 of 4

verb

as in to hurt
to feel or cause physical pain the injection only smarted for a moment

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smart

3 of 4

noun

1
as in tingle
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body the toddler was whining over the smart from the cut

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2
as in sense
smarts plural the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems she had the smarts to start college at age 16, but perhaps not the emotional maturity

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smart

4 of 4

adverb

as in smartly

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of smart
Adjective
Picking the smartest First, the study included only two birds, a rather small sample. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026 Dench most recently voiced a smart fridge invented by Claire Foy’s Polly in The Magic Faraway Tree, which premiered earlier this year, based on Enid Blyton’s book series. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
A couple of months have passed since the meetup, but the organizers are still smarting from the fallout. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026 The Irish, who have a Heisman candidate in quarterback CJ Carr, bring a 10-game winning streak into the season and still are smarting from being left out of the playoff. — Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
The distribution of wealth does not represent a distribution of effort or smarts by any reasonable assessment. — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Luke Even though Luke is secretly a major brainiac, his smarts may have prevented him from finding love by being too picky. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Seats can be trimmed in a smart-looking gray wool blend, part of Volvo’s effort to eliminate leather use by 2030. — cleveland, 24 Sep. 2022 The stand has a sleek design made from thin but sturdy fiberglass, pieced together in a smart-looking Z-shape. — Thomas Hindle, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Apr. 2022 See All Example Sentences for smart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smart
  1. intelligent
  2. clever
  3. witty
  4. elegant
  5. stylish
  6. cute
  7. sophisticated
  8. hurt
Adjective
  • For much of the world, the AI that would matter most may not be the most intelligent model ever built.
    — Keyu Jin, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
  • This all-loving creator is ever present, completely good, and the intelligent source of immortal truth and unending love.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of intelligent
Adjective
  • The elaborate, experiential drinks are presented on trays or pedestals alongside clever fixings.
    — Jaclyn DeGiorgio, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • From time-saving kitchen gadgets and food warmers to festive serving platters, Thanksgiving table decorations and clever ways to store leftovers, there are plenty of products that can help make the holiday feel a little less stressful.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of clever
Adjective
  • With a captivating bank fraud mystery, and two irresistible love stories, Kleypas’ uniquely wise and witty novel is a gem.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Revived for the first time since 2011, this production, directed by John Benjamin Hickey, is gutting, witty and painfully timely.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of witty
Adjective
  • An all-black look never fails to look elegant and serves as a contrasting backdrop to your zebra-print bag.
    — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Later, she’s entertained by a mouse running along the baseboard of one of London’s more elegant restaurants.
    — Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of elegant
Adjective
  • DeMellier’s founder, Mireia Llusia-Lindh, tapped the residential architect Nicolas Schuybroek to create a space that felt like a stylish home with vintage furniture, photography and architecture books and original work by female artists.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Specializing in a stylish suite of KD55 showerhead filters, the brand has recently been picked up by leading UK retailer Boots.
    — Tracy Achonwa, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of stylish
Adjective
  • At their on-screen meet cute, Apatow hands Bamford $500 cash just to pitch her on her own documentary.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The showstopper is a very cute idea where each baker has to make a dessert cart with at least three classic desserts on it.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • The project also reflects the increasing importance of reliable manufacturing capacity in industries that depend on sophisticated electronic, sensing and space-related technologies.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Soviets and their allies might have sophisticated weaponry and boundless barbarity.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of sophisticated
Verb
  • Jackdaw to have limited impact on energy bills The British government has faced criticism from some corners that its climate policies have hurt industry and energy security.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Among the report’s most concerning findings, enterprises often make software purchases that IT heads believe could hurt the organization.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of hurt

Phrases Containing smart

Browse Nearby Words

smarm
smart
smart-aleck
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Cite this Entry

“Smart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smart. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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