Smart vs. Intelligent: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on February 17, 2024
Smart generally refers to quick-wittedness, adaptability, and often practical knowledge, while intelligent implies a greater depth of understanding, reasoning, and cognitive abilities.
Key Differences
Smart typically denotes quickness in learning or understanding, often showcasing cleverness or practical skills in specific situations. Intelligent, conversely, implies a deeper level of understanding, analytical thinking, and often a theoretical or conceptual grasp of matters.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 17, 2024
In everyday contexts, being smart often relates to being resourceful, having street smarts, or showing acumen in practical affairs. Intelligent individuals are usually associated with academic proficiency, deep thinking, and the ability to understand complex concepts and ideas.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 17, 2024
Smart can also imply adaptability and the ability to handle various situations effectively, often with a certain flair. Intelligent, however, suggests a capacity for abstract thought, logical reasoning, and the ability to engage with complex intellectual concepts.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 17, 2024
While smart often refers to quick thinking and the ability to solve problems efficiently, it might not always involve deep knowledge or understanding. Intelligent reflects a broader and deeper level of knowledge, and a more profound understanding of the world.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 17, 2024
In terms of learning, a smart person might quickly grasp new skills or concepts, making them effective in practical tasks or problem-solving. An intelligent person, on the other hand, excels in comprehending, analyzing, and synthesizing information, often excelling in academic or theoretical fields.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 17, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Learning Speed
Quick in grasping new skills or concepts
Deep and comprehensive understanding
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Problem Solving
Efficient, often with practical solutions
Analytical, with in-depth reasoning
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Feb 17, 2024
Knowledge Type
Practical, often related to real-life situations
Theoretical, often academic or conceptual
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Feb 17, 2024
Adaptability
High, able to adjust to various situations
More focused on depth than adaptability
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Feb 17, 2024
Perception
Often associated with cleverness and resourcefulness
Linked with depth of understanding and analysis
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Feb 17, 2024
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Smart and Intelligent Definitions
Smart
Being clever and resourceful.
His smart approach solved the problem quickly.
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Having or showing a high ability to learn and understand.
An intelligent student, she excelled in her studies.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Quick in learning or understanding.
She’s smart at picking up new languages.
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Capable of learning, understanding, and applying complex ideas.
She displayed her intelligent grasp of the subject during the lecture.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Practical intelligence and cleverness.
Her smart tactics won the game.
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Jan 11, 2024
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Intelligent
Characterized by deep understanding and reasoning.
His intelligent analysis won praise from the professor.
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Reflecting a high level of mental capacity.
He’s known for his intelligent contributions to debates.
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Possessing a strong ability to analyze and synthesize.
Her intelligent approach to research was commendable.
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Having intelligence
Is there intelligent life elsewhere in the galaxy?.
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Having a high degree of intelligence; mentally acute
An intelligent student.
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Showing sound judgment and rationality
An intelligent decision.
An intelligent solution to the problem.
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Appealing to the intellect; intellectual
A film with witty and intelligent dialogue.
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Smart
Capable of making adjustments that resemble those resulting from human decisions, chiefly by means of electronic sensors and computer technology
Smart missiles.
Smart machines.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
To cause a sharp, usually superficial, stinging pain
The slap delivered to my face smarted.
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Well thought-out, well considered.
The engineer had a very intelligent design proposal for the new car.
The general devised an intelligent strategy for the southern campaign.
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Intelligent
Characterized by thoughtful interaction.
My girlfriend and I had an intelligent conversation.
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Intelligent
Having at least a similar level of brain power to humankind.
The hunt for intelligent life.
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Smart
To suffer acutely, as from mental distress, wounded feelings, or remorse
"No creature smarts so little as a fool" (Alexander Pope).
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Having an environment-sensing automatically-invoked built-in computer capability.
An intelligent network or keyboard
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Intelligent
Endowed with the faculty of understanding or reason; as, man is an intelligent being.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Smarts(Slang) Intelligence; expertise
A reporter with a lot of smarts.
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Possessed of a high level of intelligence, education, or judgment; knowing; sensible; skilled; exhibiting high intelligence; as, an intelligent young man; an intelligent architect; an intelligent answer.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
(intransitive) To hurt or sting.
After being hit with a pitch, the batter exclaimed "Ouch, my arm smarts!"
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Cognizant; aware; communicative.
Intelligent of seasons.
Which are to France the spies and speculationsIntelligent of our state.
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Jan 11, 2024
Intelligent
Having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree;
Is there intelligent life in the universe?
An intelligent question
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Smart
(intransitive) To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; be punished severely; to feel the sting of evil.
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Intelligent
Exercising or showing good judgment;
Healthy scepticism
A healthy fear of rattlesnakes
The healthy attitude of French laws
Healthy relations between labor and management
An intelligent solution
A sound approach to the problem
Sound advice
No sound explanation for his decision
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
(informal) Exhibiting intellectual knowledge, such as that found in books.
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Smart
Equipped with intelligent behaviour (digital/computer technology).
Smart car
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Smart
Good-looking; well dressed; fine; fashionable.
A smart outfit
You look smart in that business suit.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Cleverly shrewd and humorous in a way that may be rude and disrespectful.
He became tired of his daughter's sarcasm and smart remarks.
Don't get smart with me!
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
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.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
A dandy; one who is smart in dress; one who is brisk, vivacious, or clever.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
To feel a lively, pungent local pain; - said of some part of the body as the seat of irritation; as, my finger smarts; these wounds smart.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; to suffer; to feel the sting of evil; as, the team is still smarting from its loss of the championship.
No creature smarts so little as a fool.
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Quick, pungent, lively pain; a pricking local pain, as the pain from puncture by nettles.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Severe, pungent pain of mind; pungent grief; as, the smart of affliction.
To stand 'twixt us and our deserved smart.
Counsel mitigates the greatest smart.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Causing a smart; pungent; pricking; as, a smart stroke or taste.
How smart lash that speech doth give my conscience.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Accomplishing, or able to accomplish, results quickly; active; sharp; clever.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Marked by acuteness or shrewdness; quick in suggestion or reply; vivacious; witty; as, a smart reply; a smart saying.
Who, for the poor renown of being smartWould leave a sting within a brother's heart?
A sentence or two, . . . which I thought very smart.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Elegant and stylish;
Chic elegance
A smart new dress
A suit of voguish cut
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Characterized by quickness and ease in learning;
Some children are brighter in one subject than another
Smart children talk earlier than the average
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Improperly forward or bold;
Don't be fresh with me
Impertinent of a child to lecture a grownup
An impudent boy given to insulting strangers
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Marked by smartness in dress and manners;
A dapper young man
A jaunty red hat
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Smart
Showing quick-witted intelligence.
She made a smart decision to invest early.
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Jan 11, 2024
Smart
Having or showing a quick-witted intelligence.
He gave a smart answer to the complex question.
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Jan 11, 2024
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is intelligence the same as having a high IQ?
High IQ is a measure of intelligence, but intelligence encompasses broader cognitive abilities beyond IQ scores.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 17, 2024
Are intelligent people always good in academics?
While often true, intelligence can manifest in various forms, not limited to academic prowess.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 17, 2024
Do smart people learn faster?
Smart people often learn quickly, especially in practical or real-life situations.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 17, 2024
Is being smart always an advantage?
Being smart has many advantages, but it also comes with challenges, like high expectations.
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Feb 17, 2024
Is intelligence genetic?
Genetics can influence intelligence, but environmental factors also play a significant role.
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Feb 17, 2024
Can reading books make you more intelligent?
Reading can enhance knowledge and cognitive skills, contributing to intelligence.
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Feb 17, 2024
Can intelligence be developed?
Yes, intelligence can be developed and enhanced through education, experiences, and mental exercises.
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Feb 17, 2024
Does being smart guarantee success?
Being smart can contribute to success, but other factors like hard work, persistence, and emotional intelligence are also important.
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Feb 17, 2024
Can a person be smart but not intelligent?
Yes, someone might be quick-witted (smart) without having deep analytical abilities (intelligent).
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Feb 17, 2024
Are intelligence tests the only way to measure intelligence?
Intelligence tests are a common measure, but they don't capture all aspects of intelligence.
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Feb 17, 2024
Can someone be considered intelligent without formal education?
Yes, intelligence is not solely dependent on formal education.
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Feb 17, 2024
How do you recognize an intelligent person?
Intelligent people often exhibit deep understanding, analytical skills, and the ability to synthesize complex ideas.
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Feb 17, 2024
Can puzzles and games increase intelligence?
Puzzles and games can enhance certain cognitive skills, contributing to aspects of intelligence.
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Feb 17, 2024
Are smart people naturally curious?
Curiosity is often a trait of smart people, leading them to seek new information and experiences.
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Feb 17, 2024
Do smart people always make the best decisions?
Not necessarily; decision-making also involves emotional intelligence and experience.
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Feb 17, 2024
Is emotional intelligence part of being smart or intelligent?
Emotional intelligence is an aspect that can complement both smartness and intelligence.
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Feb 17, 2024
Does age affect intelligence?
While certain cognitive abilities can change with age, intelligence is not solely age-dependent.
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Feb 17, 2024
Do intelligent people always have high academic qualifications?
Not always; intelligence can manifest in various ways, not just through formal education.
Shumaila Saeed
Feb 17, 2024
Can technology make you smarter or more intelligent?
Technology can aid in the learning process, potentially enhancing both smartness and intelligence.
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Feb 17, 2024
Is there a correlation between creativity and intelligence?
Creativity often correlates with aspects of intelligence, especially in problem-solving and innovative thinking.
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Feb 17, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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