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What are Intelligent, Clever and Smart? Distinguishing Intelligent, Smart and Clever

When mentioning vocabulary related to "the ability to learn and understand things quickly", we immediately think of Intelligent, Clever and Smart, right? So what are Intelligent, Clever and Smart, and how can we distinguish these three words most accurately? Let's find the answers together with PREP in the article below!

Differences of 3 words Intelligent, Clever and Smart

I. What is Clever?
II. What is Smart?
III. What is Intelligent?
IV. Distinguishing Intelligent, Smart and Clever
V. Some synonyms of Intelligent, Clever and Smart
VI. Exercises on distinguishing Intelligent, Clever and Smart with answers
1. 1. Exercises
2. 2. Answer
VII. Take the First Step Towards IELTS Success

I. What is Clever?

What is Clever? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Clever is pronounced as /ˈklev.ɚ/ and functions as an adjective in a sentence, meaning: having or showing the ability to learn and understand things quickly and easily. For example:

Jennie has never been very clever, but she tries hard.
Robert is very clever at physics.

Words/phrases associated with Clever:

Word/phrase	Meaning	Example
Clever-clever	trying too hard to seem clever	I wish William would make some constructive proposals instead of just making clever-clever remarks.
be too clever by half	to be too confident of your own intelligence in a way that annoys other people	Phoebe was too clever by half - always ignoring other opinions.
a smooth/slick/ clever operator	someone who is skilled at dealing with people and getting what he or she wants from a situation	Tim proved himself to be a smooth operator in his eight years with the company.

II. What is Smart?

What is Smart? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Smart is pronounced as /smɑːrt/ and functions as an adjective, verb, and adverb in a sentence, with different meanings. Let's explore the meanings of Smart through the examples below!

Smart functions as an adjective with many different meanings:
- Meaning 1: having a clean, tidy, and stylish appearance. For example: Father looks very smart in his new suit, doesn't he?
- Meaning 2: being able to think quickly or intelligently in difficult situations. For example: Stephen is a smart student.
- Meaning 3: A smart machine, weapon, etc. uses computers to make it work so that it is able to act in an independent way. For example: I have received a new smartphone.
Smart functions as an adverb, meaning: in a clever and effective way. For example: Teenagers have to work hard and work smart.
Smart functions as a verb, meaning: to feel upset and angry because of failure or criticism. For example: The police are still smarting from their failure to prevent the robbery.

Words/phrases associated with Smart:

Word/phrase	Example
smart design	The smartphone features smart design elements, such as an intuitive user interface and sleek aesthetics.
smart technology	The use of smart technology in our homes allows us to control appliances and security systems remotely.
smart move	Investing in that startup turned out to be a smart move; the company is now highly profitable.

III. What is Intelligent?

What is Intelligent? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Intelligent is pronounced as /ɪnˈtel.ə.dʒənt/ and functions as an adjective in a sentence, meaning: being able to learn and understand things easily. For example:

Tom is a highly intelligent person who can think outside the box.
My little brother seems like a very intelligent young man.

Words/phrases associated with Intelligent:

Word/phrase	Example
intelligent conversation/ decision/ question	The intelligent conversation between the two scientists led to a breakthrough in their research.
intelligent software	This intelligent software uses advanced algorithms to predict user preferences.
intelligent system	The company specializes in developing intelligent systems for home automation.

IV. Distinguishing Intelligent, Smart and Clever

Let's explore the differences between Intelligent, Clever and Smart together with PREP below!

Similarities: Intelligent, Smart and Clever are adjectives that are commonly used to describe a person's intelligence or ability to think.

Differences:

	Clever	Smart	Intelligent
Part of speech	Adjective	Adjective Verb Adverb	Adjective
Meaning	Clever typically refers to skillfulness in problem-solving or accomplishing tasks.	Smart often implies intelligence, understanding, or knowledge of a person. It can also denote stylishness in fashion and modern features of technology.	Intelligent usually connotes well-rounded intelligence relating to analytical abilities, problem-solving skills, and creativity across multiple domains.
Example	She's a clever tailor.	Robert is a smart student who always gets top grades in his classes.	Henie is a highly intelligent scientist who has made significant contributions to the field of quantum physics.

V. Some synonyms of Intelligent, Clever and Smart

Let's learn some synonyms of Intelligent, Clever and Smart used as adjectives together with PREP below!

Synonym	Pronunciation	Example
bright	/braɪt/	Alex was a very bright boy.
sharp	/ʃɑːrp/	How can we stay mentally sharp as we age?
brilliant	/ˈbrɪl.jənt/	His grandfather was a brilliant scholar.
gifted	/ˈɡɪf.tɪd/	Ms.Alice is a gifted mathematician.
talented	/ˈtæl.ən.t̬ɪd/	It is a treat to see such talented youngsters perform.
intellectual	/ˌɪn.təlˈek.tʃu.əl/	This course examines the most influential intellectual thinkers of modern times.
wise	/waɪz/	Mr.Harry sought help from a wise old teacher.
brainy	/ˈbreɪ.ni/	The movie was about a teenage heartthrob who fell for the awkward brainy girl in school.
knowledgeable	/ˈnɑː.lɪ.dʒə.bəl/	Bob is very knowledgeable about insects.
astute	/əˈstuːt/	Tim's father had a reputation as an astute businessman.

VI. Exercises on distinguishing Intelligent, Clever and Smart with answers

Let's review the usage of Intelligent, Clever and Smart together with PREP by practicing the two exercises below!

1. Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer: Intelligent, Clever or Smart

My eyes were _______ from the onions.
1. Smarting
2. Cleverness
3. Intelligenting
My mother is very _______ with her hands.
1. Smart
2. Clever
3. Intelligent
We went to a very _______ party on New Year's Eve.
1. Smart
2. Clever
3. Intelligent
They are encouraging people to eat _______ and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
1. Smart
2. Clever
3. Intelligent
A lot of thoroughly _______, sensible people have fallen for the salesman's charm.
1. Smart
2. Clever
3. Intelligent

Exercise 2: Give the correct form of the word “Smart” for the sentences below:

Sarah is a (smart) student who excels in all her subjects.
Hulk always tries to (smart) his way through problems by finding clever solutions.
Victoria answered the questions (smart) during the interview, impressing the panel.
The new smartphone has many (smart) features.
Sone had to (smart) from the scolding he received for his mistake.

2. Answer

Exercise 1	Exercise 2
A A A B C	Smart Smart Smartly Smart Smart

VII. Take the First Step Towards IELTS Success

Through this article, do Preppies now know how to accurately distinguish between Intelligent, Clever and Smart. If you want expert feedback on your progress, explore our personalized IELTS mentorship programs below:

IELTS preparation course: Mastering IELTS exam from zero to hero

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.