Synonyms: intelligent, bright, brilliant, knowing, quick-witted, smart, intellectual
These adjectives mean having or showing mental keenness. Intelligent usually implies the ability to cope with new problems and to use the power of reasoning and inference effectively: The intelligent math students excelled in calculus.
Bright implies quickness or ease in learning: The bright child learned the alphabet quickly.
Brilliant suggests unusually impressive mental acuteness: The dullards envy of brilliant men is always assuaged by the suspicion that they will come to a bad end (Max Beerbohm).
Knowing implies the possession of knowledge, information, or understanding: Knowing collectors bought all the auctioned paintings.
Quick-witted suggests mental alertness and prompt response: The quick-witted emergency medical staff averted a tragedy.
Smart refers to quick intelligence and often a ready capability for taking care of ones own interests: Smart lawyers can effectively manipulate juries.
Intellectual implies the capacity to grasp difficult or abstract concepts: The former professor was the more intellectual candidate.