ingenious

adjective

in·​ge·​nious in-ˈjēn-yəs How to pronounce ingenious (audio)
Synonyms of ingeniousnext
1
: having or showing an unusual aptitude for discovering, inventing, or contriving
an ingenious detective
2
: marked by originality, resourcefulness, and cleverness in conception or execution
an ingenious contraption
3
obsolete : showing or calling for intelligence, aptitude, or discernment
ingeniously adverb
ingeniousness noun

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for ingenious

clever, adroit, cunning, ingenious mean having or showing practical wit or skill in contriving.

clever stresses physical or mental quickness, deftness, or great aptitude.

a person clever with horses

adroit often implies a skillful use of expedients to achieve one's purpose in spite of difficulties.

an adroit negotiator

cunning implies great skill in constructing or creating.

a filmmaker cunning in his use of special effects

ingenious suggests the power of inventing or discovering a new way of accomplishing something.

an ingenious software engineer

Examples of ingenious in a Sentence

How many dog-size bathrobes (an ingenious device) are out there? — David Colman, Vogue, April 2001
… spacecraft engineers tried to come up with ways to "unstick" the antenna. Those attempts failed, but by ingenious software and mission-sequencing techniques … the Galileo mission was still able to fulfill nearly all of its scientific requirements and return a rich quantity of scientific data … — Louis Friedman et al., Encyclopedia of the Solar System, 1999
… an ingenious method of checking errors … — W. David Gardner, Datamation, June 1982
The book has an ingenious plot.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The result is a heady rush, propulsive, gleefully ingenious, and lush even in its relative spareness. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2025 On the original, Braxton (on flute), the trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and the bassist Dave Holland align on an ingenious cyclical theme, tacking on one new phrase with each run-through, while the drummer Jerome Cooper adds fluttering texture. — Hank Shteamer, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025 Ritu Raman et al / MIT View 2 Images Engineers at MIT have devised an ingenious new way to produce artificial muscles for soft robots that can flex in more than one direction, similar to the complex muscles in the human body. — New Atlas, 23 Mar. 2025 Created by Steven Moffat, whose credits include Doctor Who and Sherlock, the four-part series takes ingenious turns that upend expectations and are absolutely riveting. — Air Mail, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ingenious

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ingenyous, from Middle French ingenieus, from Latin ingeniosus, from ingenium natural capacity — more at engine entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of ingenious was in the 15th century

Rhymes for ingenious

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Browse Nearby Words

ingeniosity
ingenious
ingenital
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Cite this Entry

“Ingenious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingenious. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

ingenious

adjective
in·​ge·​nious in-ˈjēn-yəs How to pronounce ingenious (audio)
: having or showing ingenuity : very clever
an ingenious plan
ingeniously adverb
ingeniousness noun
Etymology

from early French ingenieus "calling for or showing special intelligence or cleverness," from Latin ingeniosus (same meaning), from ingenium "natural ability or desire to do something, inborn ability," from in "in" and -genium, from gignere "to father, beget" — related to engine, genius, gin entry 1

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