► intelligenthaving a high level of ability to learn, understand, and think about things, or showing this ability: Cara is an ambitious and intelligent young woman. He makes intelligent decisions, and makes them quickly.
► smart intelligent. Smart sounds more informal than intelligent: Jacob is a really smart guy.
► bright intelligent. Used especially about children and young people: Both their children are bright and plan to go to college.
► brilliant extremely intelligent and good at the work you do: Einstein was a brilliant scientist.
► wise having a lot of experience and knowledge about people and the world: The story tells of a wise old man who helps his grandson respect himself.
► clever intelligent, especially in a way that is unusual: She is clever and creative, and her business is doing well.
► cunning/crafty good at using your intelligence to trick people: The actor plays the cunning criminal who tries to defeat Superman.
► intellectual having or showing a lot of education and interested in learning about art, science, literature, etc.: I work at a college with a lot of very intellectual people.
► gifted a gifted child is much more intelligent or talented than most other children: The class is for gifted kids who need more challenges in school.
► quick informal able to learn and understand things quickly: He’s very quick – I never have to explain things twice.
► sharp intelligent and able to understand things quickly so that you are not easily tricked or confused: Adam is very sharp, so he knew immediately that the salesman’s numbers were wrong.
► shrewd/astute good at understanding situations or people and at making decisions to get what you want: Sachs was a shrewd judge of character and chose his staff well.