Synonyms of smart-aleck

smart-aleck 1 of 2

adjective

1

as in cute

making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred

a talk show host who's known for his quick quips and smart-aleck observations on current events

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cute
• flippant
• smart-ass
• playful
• facetious
• smart
• wise
• smart-assed
• smart-alecky
• wiseass
• smarty-pants
• flip
• inappropriate
• pert
• mischievous
• rude
• casual
• impudent
• sassy
• cocky
• cheeky
• impish
• roguish
• frivolous
• waggish
• saucy
• fresh
• impertinent
• disrespectful
• glib
• thoughtless
• flighty
• breezy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sincere
• earnest
• serious
• solemn
• grave
• sober
• somber

2

as in sarcastic

marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings

a smart-aleck reply that was met with a slap in the face

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sarcastic
• satiric
• acidic
• barbed
• acid
• sardonic
• biting
• acerbic
• caustic
• smart-alecky
• cynical
• corrosive
• snarky
• smart-mouthed
• mordant
• scathing
• ironic
• pungent
• sharp
• acrid
• tart
• acidulous
• cutting
• harsh
• sour
• acerb
• blunt
• wry
• scalding
• concise
• flippant
• incisive
• cross
• brisk
• trenchant
• spiky
• dry
• facetious
• gruff
• severe
• sharp-tongued
• poignant
• vitriolic
• keen
• tongue-in-cheek
• brusque
• pithy
• resentful
• curt
• abrupt
• acrimonious
• bitter
• stringent
• terse
• sourish
• tartish
• succinct
• insincere
• backhanded
• crisp
• snippy
• rough
• snippety

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• amusing
• playful
• merry
• mild
• gentle
• waggish
• droll
• bland
• diplomatic
• sportive
• polite
• smooth
• good-natured
• urbane
• gracious
• good-humored
• hospitable
• genial
• cordial
• affable
• suave
• sociable

smart aleck

2 of 2

noun

ˈsmärt-ˌa-lik 

variants also smart alec

as in wise guy

a person who likes to show off in a clever but annoying way

some smart aleck in the audience kept shouting clever insults at the nervous speaker

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wise guy
• wiseass
• smarty
• wiseacre
• wisenheimer
• smarty-pants
• know-it-all
• hotshot
• show-off
• know-all
• wisecracker

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of smart-aleck

Adjective

He is surrounded by a parade of savvier comic archetypes — from his urbane, happily rational brother, Beralde (Dylan Baker), to his smart-aleck maid, Toinette (Rachel Bloom, giving eternal side-eye) — who have to either evade or manipulate him. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

Noun

This fuzzy, snout-nosed, smart aleck extraterrestrial whose name was Gordon Shumway crashed in the suburban garage of the Tanner family in California after escaping from the doomed planet of Melmac, which was destroyed by nuclear war. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2025

Newton scored and so did backcourt mate Cam Spencer, that different style of smart aleck, who had 20. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2024

Perry portrayed sweet, sarcastic smart aleck Chandler Bing for 10 seasons on Friends, garnering an Emmy nomination. — EW.com, 29 Oct. 2023

In this series launch, Billingham unveils a brash — and battered — smart aleck protagonist. — Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2023

With a smart aleck’s wit and a knack for clear-eyed lyrics, the Brooklyn singer is a sympathetic narrator. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 5 May 2023