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 of outmaneuver

• outwit
• outsmart
• thwart
• deceive
• defeat
• overcome
• outfox
• outthink

Examples of outmaneuver in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

For more than a decade, India’s leader Narendra Modi has seemed politically unassailable, presiding over a government that has outmaneuvered opponents, dominated public discourse and squeezed the space for dissent in the world’s biggest democracy. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 28 July 2026

But while in theory, a superhuman AI system might outmaneuver even the most secure containers, there are also actions AI companies could take right now to improve security. — Harry Booth, Time, 24 July 2026

Apple's September launch of the iPhone 18 Pro is a calculated strategic move to outmaneuver Android competitors, including Samsung and Google. — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

In the end, Seattle outmaneuvered and outbodied the Sparks, snatching steals and flipping the ball around the perimeter until the Storm fired off a shot. — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for outmaneuver

• 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