highly clever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly clever" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that demonstrates a significant level of intelligence or ingenuity. Example: "The solution he proposed was not only effective but also highly clever, showcasing his innovative thinking."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That's because key weaknesses like a smallish backseat and less-than-optimal trunk room go away when you convert this car into a wagonlet, and a highly clever one at that.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Of course swearing can be offensive, ill-judged and rude, but in dramatic terms it can also be highly expressive, clever and, well, just funny.

Independent

For the first few decades, this growth seemed to have been based on something beautiful and right: the Irish had always been highly educated, clever, and hardworking, and they were now earning what they deserved.

The New Yorker

It was a clever, highly political answer, calmly delivered.

The New Yorker

In a network, interference between transmitters is usually viewed as highly undesirable and clever algorithms and protocols have been devised to avoid it.

University of California, Berkeley

Clever, highly incentivised people will always outfox the careful and considered pace of the regulators – especially when technology, with smartphones and big data, is continually opening up new forms of banking, and thus new ways to get around the existing legislation.

The Guardian - Opinion

An atmosphere in which a character as highly placed and clever as Baelish can talk himself to the brink of extinction with a single phrase really didn't need explicit scenes of sex and torture as well, but the showrunners piled them on.

The New Yorker

The feature I find interesting is the clever, highly engineered case.

TechCrunch

Highly social and clever and cooperative with tools, elephants are often near the top of the brainiest creatures list.

Science Magazine

In his latest post, he praised his fans as "bright, clever, highly informed and sometimes worryingly more intelligent than me".

BBC

The intestinal epithelium is continuously replenished by stem cells residing at the highly proliferative crypts (Clevers, 2013).

EMBO Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly clever" to describe solutions or strategies that are both intelligent and inventive. For instance, "The design was not just functional, but highly clever in its use of space."

Common error

While "highly clever" is acceptable, avoid using it excessively in very informal settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "smart" or "ingenious" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly clever" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a significant degree of intelligence or ingenuity. It is used to describe something that is not just clever, but exceptionally so, as seen in the example provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "highly clever" is a grammatically correct and usable adjective phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI. While not extremely common, it effectively conveys a high degree of intelligence and ingenuity. It's most frequently encountered in news and media, academic writing, and scientific contexts. When aiming for clarity and impact, consider using "highly clever" to underscore the exceptional intelligence or ingenuity of a subject. For more informal settings, consider more simple alternatives like "smart" or "ingenious".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely intelligent

Focuses on the degree of intelligence rather than ingenuity.

exceptionally bright

Emphasizes quickness of understanding and mental agility.

remarkably ingenious

Highlights inventiveness and resourcefulness.

extraordinarily astute

Stresses perceptiveness and insightfulness.

incredibly sharp-witted

Focuses on the speed and cleverness of one's responses.

particularly brilliant

Emphasizes exceptional intellectual ability.

notably sharp

Indicates a distinct level of mental acuity.

decidedly ingenious

Highlights ingenuity with a sense of definiteness.

very insightful

Focuses on the depth of understanding and perception.

highly resourceful

Emphasizes the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "highly clever" in a sentence?

You can use "highly clever" to describe someone or something that demonstrates a significant level of intelligence or ingenuity. For example, "The solution he proposed was not only effective but also "highly clever", showcasing his innovative thinking."

What are some alternatives to "highly clever"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "extremely intelligent", "remarkably ingenious", or "exceptionally bright".

Is there a difference between "highly clever" and "simply clever"?

"Highly clever" suggests a greater degree of ingenuity and intelligence compared to "simply clever". "Highly" intensifies the adjective, indicating a more impressive level of cleverness.

In what kind of writing is "highly clever" most appropriate?

"Highly clever" is suitable for formal writing, technical descriptions, and situations where you want to emphasize the intelligence or ingenuity of something. It may be less suitable for very casual conversations where simpler terms are preferred.