intelligent
smart / bright
Adjective
comp: more intelligentsup: most intelligent
Describes a capacity for mental processing that goes beyond mere knowledge. It implies an active ability to reason, adapt, and solve problems efficiently. While 'smart' is often used casually to describe quick wit or practical cleverness, 'intelligent' carries a more formal and stable connotation. It suggests an innate cognitive power or a sophisticated level of intellectual development. When applied to animals or non-humans, it refers to a perceived depth of understanding or awareness, often signaled by behavior that mimics human reasoning.
💬Casual Conversation
🎬Tuesday afternoon, Jessica is frantically updating a Gantt chart while Mr. Sterling is at a silent retreat.
Mr. Sterling
The office layout should be an intelligent organism, breathing with the wind.
Jessica
Sir, we're barely keeping our heads above water as it is.
💡
Mr. Sterling uses 'intelligent' in a metaphorical, philosophical sense to describe architecture, while Jessica responds with the idiom 'keeping our heads above water,' meaning she is struggling to survive an overwhelming amount of work.