Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
niftiness

niftiness

1 6.6
A quality of being clever and well made that people like to use
  • noun
  • /ˈnɪftɪnəs/
  • Informal
translation icon : ingenio
  • Her niftiness was evident in the creative solutions she proposed for our project.

Examples

  • The artist's work showcases a niftiness that makes each piece both attractive and thought-provoking.

  • 50s of every kind are generally known for their niftiness; the Canon 1.8 is particularly cheap, especially compared with the 1.4, hence 'thrifty.'

    Blog text (30)

  • Localized negentropy, but no miracles (unless you count the remarkable, crazy niftiness of life itself).

    Blog text (1)

  • The new smartphone design is a great example of niftiness, combining style and functionality.

Synonyms

cleverness
vsniftiness
16 2.8

Quick thinking that finds smart new ideas and solutions

adds an attractive well designed aspect to that smart quality
brightness
vsniftiness
3 3.8

A quick mind that shows itself by saying smart, funny things

pairs that mental quickness with pleasing or clever design
sharpness
vsniftiness
1 4.1

A quick mind that understands things clearly

combines keen thought with attractive or well planned design
braininess
vsniftiness
1 5.2

A quality of being very smart and thinking quickly

adds appeal of good visual or practical design to intelligence
wittiness
vsniftiness
1 5.0

The ability to make quick clever remarks that make people laugh

keeps verbal cleverness but adds visual or practical design appeal
nimbleness
vsniftiness
1 4.8

Quick thinking that helps you understand and answer fast

adds a sense of stylish or useful design to that agility
canniness
vsniftiness
1 7.5

Being careful and clever when making decisions about money

focuses instead on cleverness combined with attractiveness or design
artiness
vsniftiness
6.7

A quality of being creative and skilled in making art or design

includes clear attractiveness and useful design as well as inventiveness
wittedness
vsniftiness
7.4

Thinking quickly and understanding things easily

pairs that quick cleverness with an added sense of design appeal

Antonyms

ugliness
16 1.4

A quality of being unpleasant to look at

inelegance
7.1

A lack of grace, good taste, or neatness

How Clever

brilliance
42 4.1
niftiness
  • Informal
1 6.6
cleverness
16 2.8
plainness
1 3.5

Surface Forms

niftiness singular
niftinesses plural

Morphology

niftiness = nifty (transparent) = nifty + ness

The noun is a straightforward formation from the adjective 'nifty' with the productive suffix '-ness' meaning 'the quality of being nifty'.

Etymology

Niftiness comes from nifty ('clever' or 'handy') plus the ending -ness that makes a noun for a quality. A helpful way to remember is to think of nifty as like 'neat' or 'skillful', so niftiness is the 'quality of being clever, attractive, or well-designed'.