outwit

verb

out·​wit ˌau̇t-ˈwit How to pronounce outwit (audio)
outwitted; outwitting

transitive verb

1
: to get the better of by superior cleverness : outsmart
2
archaic : to surpass in wisdom

Examples of outwit in a Sentence

The fox managed to outwit the hunter by hiding in a tree. They thought they had outwitted the new teacher.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ben Shapiro, Pete Buttigieg, Michael Knowles, Alex O’Connor—these are professional debaters capable of outwitting and outreasoning almost any audience member unfamiliar with traditional debate techniques, regardless of the topic or claim being considered. Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025 And those three will still have to outwit the likes of Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon and Chris Bailey, who have proven themselves on the qualifying stage. Cory Mull, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025 My orchids can outwit other life forms, and so can my Venus flytrap (currently choking on a common house fly). Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025 Several TikTok users offered their own stories of feline manipulation, turning the comment section into a community board for cat owners outwitted by their pets. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for outwit

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outwit was circa 1630

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Cite this Entry

“Outwit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outwit. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

outwit

verb
out·​wit au̇t-ˈwit How to pronounce outwit (audio)
outwitted; outwitting
: to get the better of by cleverness

More from Merriam-Webster on outwit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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