Showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others:
— Too clever to be sound.

synonyms: cagey, cagy, canny.

Roget 498: intelligent [Applied to persons], quick of apprehension, keen, acute, alive, brainy, awake, bright, quick, sharp; quick witted, keen witted, clear witted, sharp-eyed, sharp sighted, sharp witted; wide-awake; canny, shrewd, astute; clear-headed; farsighted etc. 510; discerning, perspicacious, penetrating, piercing; argute^†; quick-witted, nimble-witted, needle-witted; sharp as a needle, sharp as a tack; alive to etc. (cognizant) 490; clever etc. (apt) 698; arch etc. (cunning) 702; pas si bete [Fr.]; acute etc. 682.    wise, sage, sapient, sagacious, reasonable, rational, sound, in one's right mind, sensible, abnormis sapiens [Lat.], judicious, strong-minded.    unprejudiced, unbiased, unbigoted^†, unprepossessed^†; undazzled^†, unperplexed^†; unwarped judgment^†, impartial, equitable, fair.    cool; cool-headed, long-headed, hardheaded, strong-headed; long-sighted, calculating, thoughtful, reflecting; solid, deep, profound.    oracular; heaven-directed, heaven-born.    prudent etc. (cautious) 864; sober, stand, solid; considerate, politic, wise in one's generation; watchful etc. 459; provident etc. (prepared) 673; in advance of one' age; wise as a serpent, wise as Solomon, wise as Solon.    [Applied to actions] wise, sensible, reasonable, judicious; well-thought-out, well-planned, well-judged, well-advised; prudent, politic; expedient etc. 646.    ... show more

Mentally quick and resourceful:
— You are a clever man...you reason well and your wit is bold.

synonym: apt.

Polish: sprytny

Showing inventiveness and skill:
— A clever gadget.

synonyms: cunning, ingenious.

Roget 698: skillful, dexterous, adroit, expert, apt, handy, quick, deft, ready, gain; slick, smart etc. (active) 682; proficient, good at, up to, at home in, master of, a good hand at, au fait, thoroughbred, masterly, crack, accomplished; conversant etc. (knowing) 490.    experienced, practiced, skilled, hackneyed; up in, well up in; in practice, in proper cue; competent, efficient, qualified, capable, fitted, fit for, up to the mark, trained, initiated, prepared, primed, finished.    clever, cute, able, ingenious, felicitous, gifted, talented, endowed; inventive etc. 515; shrewd, sharp, on the ball etc. (intelligent) 498; cunning etc. 702; alive to, up to snuff, not to be caught with chaff; discreet.    neat-handed, fine-fingered, nimble-fingered, ambidextrous, sure-footed; cut out for, fitted for.    technical, artistic, scientific, daedalian^†, shipshape; workman-like, business-like, statesman-like.    ... show more

Polish: praktyczny, sprytny