Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [in-jeen-yuh s]
- /ɪnˈdʒin yəs/
- /ɪnˈdʒiː.ni.əs/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [in-jeen-yuh s]
- /ɪnˈdʒin yəs/
Definitions of ingenious word
- adjective ingenious characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction: an ingenious machine. 1
- adjective ingenious cleverly inventive or resourceful: an ingenious press agent. 1
- adjective ingenious Obsolete. intelligent; showing genius. ingenuous. 1
- noun ingenious Ingenious and ingenuous are now distinct from each other and are not synonyms. Ingenious means “characterized by cleverness” or “cleverly inventive,” as in contriving new explanations or methods: an ingenious device; ingenious designers. Ingenuous means “candid” or “innocent”: an ingenuous and sincere statement; a thug with the ingenuous eyes of a choirboy. 1
- noun ingenious (of a person) Clever, original, and inventive. 1
- adjective ingenious person: inventive 1
Information block about the term
Origin of ingenious
First appearance:
before 1375 One of the 22% oldest English words
1375-1425; late Middle English < Latin ingeniōsus, equivalent to ingeni(um) natural disposition, cleverness (in- in-2 + gen- (base of gignere to bring into being; cf. genitor) + -ium -ium) + -ōsus -ous
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Ingenious
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
ingenious popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 90% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
ingenious usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for ingenious
adj ingenious
- imaginative — characterized by or bearing evidence of imagination: an imaginative tale.
- inventive — apt at inventing, devising, or contriving.
- sly — cunning or wily: sly as a fox.
- skillful — having or exercising skill: a skillful juggler.
- shrewd — astute or sharp in practical matters: a shrewd politician.
adjective ingenious
- clever — Someone who is clever is intelligent and able to understand things easily or plan things well.
- nifty — attractively stylish or smart: a nifty new dress for Easter.
- effective — adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result: effective teaching methods; effective steps toward peace.
- inspired — aroused, animated, or imbued with the spirit to do something, by or as if by supernatural or divine influence: an inspired poet.
Antonyms for ingenious
adj ingenious
- uncreative — having the quality or power of creating.
- unimaginative — characterized by or bearing evidence of imagination: an imaginative tale.
- inventive — apt at inventing, devising, or contriving.
- honest — honorable in principles, intentions, and actions; upright and fair: an honest person.
- foolish — resulting from or showing a lack of sense; ill-considered; unwise: a foolish action, a foolish speech.
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See also
Matching words
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