intelligent smile

USAGE SUMMARY

"intelligent smile" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a smile that conveys wisdom, understanding, or insight. For example, "She greeted him with an intelligent smile, suggesting she knew more than she let on." Alternative expressions include "knowing smile," "wise smile," and "thoughtful smile."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

An ironic, intelligent smile is hovering about his lips.

The New Yorker

Early on, he watches a flock of goats, which look back at him "with their mocking, intelligent smile".

The New Yorker

"Who's returning," she said with her commanding and intelligent smile, "Suleiman el-Dewani or Nuri el-Alfi?" Suleiman el-Dewani and Nuri el-Alfi are the exiled protagonists of my novels "In the Country of Men" and "Anatomy of a Disappearance," respectively.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Stevenson describes Silver as "tall and strong" with an intelligent, smiling face; and Darvill gives us a character whose very danger lies in his insidious charm.

The Guardian

Get intelligent intelligence.

Forbes

Teachers said she was intelligent and always smiling.

Independent

A very successful husband would be my choice because he would have an intelligent mind!" (I smiled at that one; actually I started to laugh!).

Huffington Post

With Françoise Sagan, who penned the bestseller Bonjour Tristesse at 17, she shared an impudent smile, an intelligent gaze and barefoot summers in St Tropez.

The Guardian - Film

It features updated intelligent scene recognition technology, Smile Shutter™ and face detection technologies with child and adult priority, as well as high sensitivity shooting (up to ISO 3200), eleven scene modes, and in-camera image management.

TechCrunch

In fact, most of the goths are intelligent people that actually smile.

WikiHow

If they had such opportunities, they would not be willing to crawl under a table and create the illusion of an eternally smiling, amazingly intelligent global machine.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "intelligent smile" to describe a smile that conveys thoughtfulness, understanding, or a sharp wit. It adds a layer of depth to the character's expression.

Common error

Don't use "intelligent smile" when a simple "smile" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound pretentious or unnatural. Reserve it for situations where the smile truly reflects intellectual insight.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intelligent smile" functions as a descriptive element, typically serving as an adjective-noun pair modifying a subject. Ludwig AI suggests this phrase is valid and suitable for describing a smile imbued with intellect or understanding.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intelligent smile" is a grammatically sound and contextually rich expression used to depict a smile that suggests intellect, understanding, or a sharp wit. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid in English, though it appears infrequently. Predominantly found in News & Media, it serves to add depth to character descriptions. Related phrases like "knowing smile" and "thoughtful smile" offer nuanced alternatives. When using the phrase, aim for contexts where the smile genuinely reflects intellectual insight, avoiding overuse in simple descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

knowing smile

Indicates the smile suggests an understanding or awareness of something unspoken.

wise smile

Highlights the smile's association with wisdom and experience.

thoughtful smile

Highlights the contemplative aspect of the smile.

perceptive smile

Highlights the smile's ability to understand or notice things others might miss.

astute smile

Implies the smile is shrewd and insightful.

knowing grin

Emphasizes awareness or inside knowledge behind the smile.

discerning smile

Suggests the smile is selective and shows good judgment.

witty smile

Suggests the smile reflects cleverness or humor.

sharp smile

Indicates the smile is keen and quick-witted.

enigmatic smile

Implies the smile is mysterious and difficult to interpret.

FAQs

What does "intelligent smile" mean?

An "intelligent smile" suggests a smile that reflects thoughtfulness, understanding, or a keen wit. It implies the person smiling possesses insight or awareness beyond the obvious.

How can I use "intelligent smile" in a sentence?

You might say, "She greeted him with an "intelligent smile", suggesting she knew more than she let on." or "His "intelligent smile" hinted at a complex understanding of the situation."

What can I say instead of "intelligent smile"?

You can use alternatives like "knowing smile", "thoughtful smile", or "witty smile" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "intelligent smile" and "knowing smile"?

While both suggest awareness, "intelligent smile" emphasizes intellectual capacity, whereas "knowing smile" focuses on possessing specific, perhaps secret, information.