ingenuity

noun

in·ge·nu·i·ty ˌin-jə-ˈnü-ə-tē

-ˈnyü-

plural ingenuities

: skill or cleverness in devising or combining : inventiveness

: cleverness or aptness of design or contrivance

: an ingenious device or contrivance

obsolete : candor, ingenuousness

Example Sentences

She showed amazing ingenuity in finding ways to cut costs. It will take considerable ingenuity to fix these problems.

Recent Examples on the Web If coffee is a simple, rustic affair to brew, then espresso is a costly, mechanized cup of modern ingenuity.

Matt Jancer, WIRED, 25 Nov. 2022 His favorite thing these days is to give tours of the museum to children, who are wide-eyed over the ingenuity on display.

Elizabeth Barber, The New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2022 Upstairs, De La Espada Atelier’s Twenty-Five collection commemorates the brand’s 25th anniversary with a suite of furnishings that exemplify its commitment to craft and ingenuity.

ELLE Decor, 22 Nov. 2022 Nestled in a towering limestone cliff, visitors can marvel at the sheer ingenuity required to not only imagine and create such an impressive structure, but ultimately survive and thrive in an unforgiving desert environment.

Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2022 Of course, a project of this scale included plenty of hiccups—but nothing a little modern ingenuity couldn’t solve.

Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 21 Nov. 2022 Meanwhile, Roc’s sonic ingenuity has become ingrained in hip-hop production.

Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2022 Tim Minchin’s score crackles with ingenuity and wit.

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Nov. 2022 More:Chef at Bridgewater in Milwaukee's Harbor District is a believer in ingenuity, not ego Fork.

Kristine M. Kierzek, Journal Sentinel, 16 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ingenuity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.