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adv Uncommon

cleverly

KLEH-vuh-lee
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Cleverly (adv) means In a smart, skillful, or ingenious way. Example: “She cleverly avoided the question without seeming rude.”

adv
1
In a smart, skillful, or ingenious way.
"She cleverly avoided the question without seeming rude."
"The trap was cleverly disguised as a pile of leaves."

How to use cleverly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDone in a smart, resourceful, or ingenious manner.

Common pairings
cleverly designed cleverly disguised cleverly worded
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Word forms

Comparative
more cleverly
Superlative
most cleverly
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ avoided the question without seeming rude.

Etymology

From "clever" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly."

Related words

Rhymes for cleverly

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Frequently asked questions

What does “cleverly” mean?
The word “cleverly” means in a smart, skillful, or ingenious way. In plain terms, done in a smart, resourceful, or ingenious manner.
How do you pronounce “cleverly”?
“Cleverly” is pronounced KLEH-vuh-lee (/ˈklɛvɚli/ in IPA).
How do you use “cleverly” in a sentence?
Here is “cleverly” used in a sentence: “She cleverly avoided the question without seeming rude.”
What part of speech is “cleverly”?
“Cleverly” is an adverb.
Is “cleverly” a common word?
“Cleverly” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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