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
Walking into Outpost Books is like stepping into a smart book lover’s cozy den. — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026 But the clearest lesson from Iowa is that states that engage early and set smart terms come out ahead, while those that hesitate watch the investment head elsewhere. — Jeff Danielson, Chicago Tribune, 3 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
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 Ward highlighted the smarts of third-round rookie Jakobe Thomas and undrafted free agent Jacob Thomas. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 July 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
  • Legitimate concerns about abuse can be mitigated through intelligent regulation, not by eliminating a long-standing policing tool.
    — Rafael A. Mangual, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
  • View gallery - 3 images There was a time when intelligent rings were what your level-three wizard wore in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of intelligent
Adjective
  • Luckily, Amazon’s fitness section is loaded with clever devices to make home workouts fun, engaging, and a little sweaty.
    — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2026
  • There are some genuinely clever ideas on display, including space-saving furniture, transforming interiors, and ways of opening the home up to the outdoors.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of clever
Adjective
  • Beneath his commentary on trending topics and crowd interactions are anecdotes inspired by Brookzz’s family and his personal life, giving the debut a hint of intimacy and a glimpse into the man behind the charming grin and witty quips.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Yet, the show is neither witty enough to be funny nor serious enough to become engrossing.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of witty
Adjective
  • The elegant and spacious suites feature terraces with sun loungers and panoramic ocean views.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Working with the local firm Dvira Interiors, the owners turned the 12,000-square-foot residence into an elegant home that takes advantage of refined touches like ornate decorative moldings and brushed bronze and satin gold fixtures.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of elegant
Adjective
  • The shoe choice is also in character for Parker, whose real-life wardrobe has long been closely associated with stylish and luxury footwear.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • These exist in both the structures of her music and the fantastical world building achieved through presenting herself as a stylish equine named Stella Stallion that exists in a natural wonderland world that’s like if Lisa Frank met Planet Earth.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of stylish
Adjective
  • Instead of black tights, try cute little socks or colorful tights.
    — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Solid prewar with 850 square feet of space, a windowed kitchen that’s renovated and kind of cute, a windowed bathroom with a good tub.
    — Nora Deligter, Curbed, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • But our latest research shows how these tombs – built for Etruscans of higher socioeconomic and political status—were designed to offer sophisticated sensory experiences.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • There are more ways than ever to discover a new brand, more sophisticated motorcycles to build, more accessible manufacturing technology, and a global audience sitting just a click away.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of sophisticated
Verb
  • One woman writing for Hers described spending about an hour working up the courage for her first weight-loss shot, only to find the thin needle barely hurt.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Higher interest rates definitely hurt the commercial real estate sector from 2022 through 2024, as higher costs for borrowing lowered the value of assets.
    — Diana Olick, CNBC, 8 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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