Witty vs. Clever — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 5, 2023
Witty involves a quick and inventive verbal humor, while clever implies a sharp intelligence and ingenuity in understanding or solving something.
Difference Between Witty and Clever
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Key Differences
Witty encompasses the ability to deliver humorous remarks or responses that are quick and inventive. It's often associated with an immediate, humorous retort that is contextually appropriate. Cleverness, on the other hand, is related to one's mental agility across a wider range of contexts, not limited to humor. It includes solving problems with ingenuity.
A witty comment is designed to entertain, bringing a smile or laughter to the situation. It reflects a playful intellect. Clever actions or thoughts, while they can be humorous, are more often associated with effectiveness, problem-solving, and sometimes, cunning or craftiness.
Wittiness is often spontaneous, relying on the moment to deliver a quip or pun that is especially suited to the situation. Cleverness may be demonstrated in well-thought-out plans or solutions that exhibit intelligence and possibly strategic thinking.
In literature, a witty character may be the one who keeps the dialogue lively and entertaining, often using language to their advantage. A clever character might be the one who devises complex plans, sees through deceit, or outsmarts others in the narrative.
Both wit and cleverness are regarded positively, but wit is often seen in a social and communicative light, while cleverness may be recognized in both social contexts and solitary pursuits of intellect, such as in academic or professional achievements.
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Compare with Definitions
Witty
Quick with humor
His witty comeback silenced the critics.
Clever
Inventive and resourceful
Her clever use of materials won the science fair.
Witty
Humorously intelligent
She made a witty remark that had the whole room laughing.
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
Witty
Mentally sharp and funny
Her witty banter was the highlight of the evening.
Clever
Healthy or well
I was up and about by this time though still not too clever
Witty
Amusingly ingenious
Her witty inventions always entertained her friends.
Clever
Mentally quick and original; bright
A clever student.
Witty
Showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humour
Marlowe was charming and witty
A witty remark
Clever
Skilled at accomplishing things, especially with the hands
A clever carpenter.
Witty
Demonstrating wit in expression, especially in speech or writing; clever and humorous
A witty commentator on the political scene.
Clever
Crafty; cunning
"a hard-working kid who rose from poverty, only to be duped by rich, clever bankers" (Jeff Goodell).
Witty
Characterized by or having the nature of wit; funny or jocular
A witty saying.
Clever
Exhibiting ingenuity or imagination; creative or artful
A clever experiment.
Witty
Entertainingly and strikingly clever or original in concept, design, or performance
A witty sculpture.
Witty choreography.
Clever
Witty; amusing
An evening of clever repartee.
Witty
(obsolete) Wise, having good judgement.
Clever
Characterized by cunning or shrewdness
Clever manipulation of public opinion.
Witty
(archaic) Possessing a strong intellect or intellectual capacity; intelligent, skilful, ingenious.
Clever
New England Easily managed; docile
"Oxen must be pretty clever to be bossed around the way they are" (Dialect Notes).
Witty
Clever; amusingly ingenious.
His speech was both witty and informative.
Clever
Chiefly Southern US Good-natured; amiable.
Witty
Full of wit.
His frequent quips mark him as particularly witty.
Clever
Nimble with hands or body; skillful; adept.
Witty
Quick of mind; insightful; in possession of wits.
She may have grown older, but she has grown no less witty.
Clever
Quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent.
Witty
Possessed of wit; knowing; wise; skillful; judicious; clever; cunning.
Clever
Mentally quick and resourceful.
A simple but clever trick to solve the problem.
Clever like a fox
Witty
Especially, possessing wit or humor; good at repartee; droll; facetious; sometimes, sarcastic; as, a witty remark, poem, and the like.
Clever
Skilled at achieving what one wants, especially via unusual methods.
With a clever lawyer, she could easily be acquitted.
Witty
Combining clever conception and facetious expression;
His sermons were unpredictably witty and satirical as well as eloquent
Clever
Smart, intelligent, or witty; mentally quick or sharp.
Witty
Clever in a humorous way
He wrote a witty parody of the song.
Clever
(of objects or actions) Showing inventiveness or originality; witty.
Clever
Possessing magical abilities.
Clever
(obsolete) Fit; suitable; having propriety.
Clever
(obsolete) Well-shaped; handsome.
Clever
Good-natured; obliging.
Clever
Fit and healthy; free from fatigue or illness.
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.
Clever
Showing skill or adroitness in the doer or former; as, a clever speech; a clever trick.
Clever
Having fitness, propriety, or suitableness.
"T would sound more cleverTo me and to my heirs forever.
Clever
Well-shaped; handsome.
Clever
Good-natured; obliging.
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
Clever
Showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others;
A cagey lawyer
Too clever to be sound
Clever
Mentally quick and resourceful;
An apt pupil
You are a clever man...you reason well and your wit is bold
Clever
Showing inventiveness and skill;
A clever gadget
The cunning maneuvers leading to his success
An ingenious solution to the problem
Clever
Intelligent and quick-witted
She solved the puzzle with a clever solution.
Clever
Skilled at achieving one's ends
He was clever in navigating office politics.
Clever
Marked by wit or ingenuity
The clever design of the app saved time.
Clever
Shrewd or cunning
He negotiated a clever deal that benefited his company.
Common Curiosities
Is witty always about being funny?
Primarily, yes, witty usually relates to humor in communication.
Are witty people also clever?
They can be, as wit is a form of cleverness, especially in social interactions.
Can clever be negative?
Sometimes, if it implies cunning or deceit.
What does clever mean?
Clever refers to showing intelligence or skill.
How do you recognize a witty person?
By their ability to deliver humorous and quick responses.
Is cleverness related to education?
Not necessarily; it's more about sharp thinking and problem-solving.
Can wit be developed?
Yes, through practice and exposure to humor.
What does witty mean?
Witty refers to using words in a quick and humorous way.
How do you recognize cleverness?
Through smart solutions, original ideas, or insightful thinking.
Can wit help in problem-solving?
It can, especially if the problem is related to social interactions or communication.
Can witty remarks be planned?
They can be, but they're often valued for their spontaneity.
Is cleverness innate or learned?
It can be both; some people are naturally clever, while others develop it.
How do you become more clever?
By learning, observing, and practicing problem-solving and critical thinking.
Are all clever people witty?
No, one can be clever without necessarily being witty.
Are witty people popular in social settings?
Often, yes, because they can entertain and engage others.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
