Silly vs. Clever — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Silly and Clever
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Compare with Definitions
Silly
Having or showing a lack of common sense or judgement; absurd and foolish
Another of his silly jokes
‘Don't be silly!’ she said
Clever
Quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent
How clever of him to think of this!
She was an extremely clever and studious young woman
Silly
(especially of a woman, child, or animal) helpless; defenceless.
Clever
Healthy or well
I was up and about by this time though still not too clever
Silly
Denoting fielding positions very close to the batsman
Silly mid-on
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Clever
Mentally quick and original; bright
A clever student.
Silly
A foolish person (often used as a form of address)
Come on, silly
Clever
Skilled at accomplishing things, especially with the hands
A clever carpenter.
Silly
Having or exhibiting a lack of good judgment or common sense; foolish.
Clever
Crafty; cunning
"a hard-working kid who rose from poverty, only to be duped by rich, clever bankers" (Jeff Goodell).
Silly
Lacking seriousness or responsibleness; frivolous
Indulged in silly word play.
Silly pet names for each other.
Clever
Exhibiting ingenuity or imagination; creative or artful
A clever experiment.
Silly
Semiconscious; dazed
Knocked silly by the impact.
Clever
Witty; amusing
An evening of clever repartee.
Silly
Laughable or amusing through foolishness or a foolish appearance.
Clever
Characterized by cunning or shrewdness
Clever manipulation of public opinion.
Silly
(of numbers, particularly prices) Absurdly large.
Clever
New England Easily managed; docile
"Oxen must be pretty clever to be bossed around the way they are" (Dialect Notes).
Silly
Blessed, particularly:
Clever
Chiefly Southern US Good-natured; amiable.
Silly
Good; pious.
Clever
Nimble with hands or body; skillful; adept.
Silly
Holy.
Clever
Quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent.
Silly
Pitiful, inspiring compassion, particularly:
Clever
Mentally quick and resourceful.
A simple but clever trick to solve the problem.
Clever like a fox
Silly
Innocent; suffering undeservedly, especially as an epithet of lambs and sheep.
Clever
Skilled at achieving what one wants, especially via unusual methods.
With a clever lawyer, she could easily be acquitted.
Silly
Helpless, defenseless.
Scared silly
Clever
Smart, intelligent, or witty; mentally quick or sharp.
Silly
Insignificant, worthless, especially with regard to land quality.
Clever
(of objects or actions) Showing inventiveness or originality; witty.
Silly
Weak, frail; flimsy use concerning people and animals is now obsolete.
Clever
Possessing magical abilities.
Silly
Sickly; feeble; infirm.
Clever
(obsolete) Fit; suitable; having propriety.
Silly
Simple, plain, particularly:
Clever
(obsolete) Well-shaped; handsome.
Silly
Rustic, homely.
Clever
Good-natured; obliging.
Silly
(obsolete) Lowly, of humble station.
Clever
Fit and healthy; free from fatigue or illness.
Silly
Mentally simple, foolish, particularly:
Clever
Possessing quickness of intellect, skill, dexterity, talent, or adroitness; expert.
Though there were many clever men in England during the latter half of the seventeenth century, there were only two great creative minds.
Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever.
Silly
(obsolete) Rustic, uneducated, unlearned.
Clever
Showing skill or adroitness in the doer or former; as, a clever speech; a clever trick.
Silly
Thoughtless, lacking judgment.
Clever
Having fitness, propriety, or suitableness.
"T would sound more cleverTo me and to my heirs forever.
Silly
(Scottish) Mentally retarded.
Clever
Well-shaped; handsome.
Silly
Stupefied, senseless; stunned or dazed.
Clever
Good-natured; obliging.
Silly
Very close to the batsman, facing the bowler; closer than short.
Clever
Skillful (or showing skill) in adapting means to ends;
Cool prudence and sensitive selfishness along with quick perception of what is possible--these distinguish an adroit politician
Came up with a clever story
An ingenious press agent
An ingenious scheme
Silly
Sillily: in a silly manner.
Clever
Showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others;
A cagey lawyer
Too clever to be sound
Silly
(colloquial) A silly person.
Clever
Mentally quick and resourceful;
An apt pupil
You are a clever man...you reason well and your wit is bold
Silly
A term of address.
Clever
Showing inventiveness and skill;
A clever gadget
The cunning maneuvers leading to his success
An ingenious solution to the problem
Silly
(colloquial) A mistake.
Silly
Happy; fortunate; blessed.
Silly
Harmless; innocent; inoffensive.
The silly virgin strove him to withstand.
A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog.
Silly
Weak; helpless; frail.
After long storms . . . With which my silly bark was tossed sore.
The silly buckets on the deck.
Silly
Rustic; plain; simple; humble.
A fourth man, in a sillyhabit.
All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep.
Silly
Weak in intellect; destitute of ordinary strength of mind; foolish; witless; simple; as, a silly woman.
Silly
Proceeding from want of understanding or common judgment; characterized by weakness or folly; unwise; absurd; stupid; as, silly conduct; a silly question.
Silly
A word used for misbehaving children;
Don't be a silly
Silly
Pungent adjectives of disesteem;
Gave me a cockamamie reason for not going
Wore a goofy hat
A silly idea
Some wacky plan for selling more books
Silly
Lacking seriousness; given to frivolity;
A dizzy blonde
Light-headed teenagers
Silly giggles
Silly
Inspiring scornful pity;
How silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years
Silly
Dazed from or as if from repeated blows;
Knocked silly by the impact
Slaphappy with exhaustion
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