Etymology

Adjective

1. Exhibiting social ability or cleverness.
   • 1811, Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, chapter 19

     “I always preferred the church, and I still do. But that was not smart enough for my family. They recommended the army. That was a great deal too smart for me.”

2. Exhibiting intellectual knowledge, such as that found in books.
3. Good-looking.

   a smart outfit

4. Cleverly and/or sarcastically humorous in a way that may be rude and disrespectful. Cf: (verb) to smart off; (noun) smarty pants, wise guy, wiseacre, wise-ass; (adjective) cute.

   He became tired of his daughter's sarcasm and smart remarks.

5. Sudden and intense.

   1860 July 9, Henry David Thoreau, journal entry, from Thoreau's bird-lore, Francis H. Allen (editor), Houghton Mifflin (Boston, 1910), Thoreau on Birds: notes on New England birds from the Journals of Henry David Thoreau, Beacon Press, (Boston, 1993), page 239:

   • There is a smart shower at 5 P.M., and in the midst of it a hummingbird is busy about the flowers in the garden, unmindful of it, though you would think that each big drop that struck him would be a serious accident.

6. Intense in feeling; painful. Used usually with the adverb intensifier right.
   • He raised his voice, and it hurt her feelings right smart.
   • That cast on his leg chaffs him right smart.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:learned

Antonyms

Verb

1. To hurt or sting.

   After being hit with a pitch, the batter exclaimed "Ouch, my arm smarts!"

Adjective

1. clever (mentally sharp or bright)