outmaneuver

verb

out·​ma·​neu·​ver ˌau̇t-mə-ˈn(y)ü-vər 

outmaneuvered; outmaneuvering

transitive verb

: to outdo, defeat, or gain an advantage over by skillful or clever maneuvering : to maneuver more effectively than

Battalions are especially important in desert warfare because they are powerful enough to deliver devastating blows … but small enough to sneak along ridges and valleys to outmaneuver larger forces.

—Bob Davis

… an amorally ambitious studio exec who disposes of a threatening screenwriter as coolly as he outmaneuvers a rival executive.

—Gregg Kilday

Sabre pilots learned that if they could force their adversaries to change direction rapidly, the Sabre could outmaneuver them.

—Fred Reed

Synonyms

• fox
• outfox
• outslick
• outsmart
• outthink
• outwit
• overreach

Examples of outmaneuver in a Sentence

outmaneuvered his congressional opponent by co-opting his call for change in Washington

Recent Examples on the Web

Thrust into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, the man must outmaneuver blockades and navigate perilous threats both in and outside of the submarine. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2025

These skills enable solopreneurs to outmaneuver larger businesses with speed and agility. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Schiff outmaneuvered her in the state’s dramatic 2024 jungle primary. —Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 13 Apr. 2025

For the most part, the industry has not been able to outmaneuver these special interest groups in Sacramento. —Andrew Deangelo, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for outmaneuver

• approver
• improver
• maneuver
• remover
• louver
• mover

Kids Definition

outmaneuver

verb

out·​ma·​neu·​ver

ˌau̇t-mə-ˈn(y)ü-vər

: to be more skillful or successful than in maneuvering