outwit

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verb out·wit \ ˌau̇t-ˈwit \

Definition of outwit

outwitted; outwitting

transitive verb

1 :to get the better of by superior cleverness :outsmart

2 archaic :to surpass in wisdom

See outwit defined for English-language learners

See outwit defined for kids

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 of outwit from the Web

The soil is the same way -- the bad actors are outnumbered and usually outwitted by the good ones.

— adrian higgins, idahostatesman, "The zoo beneath our feet: We’re only beginning to understand soil’s hidden world," 23 Aug. 2017
UEFA is on the lookout for clubs who might try to outwit its financial regulators by inflating their income through companies linked to a club’s owners.

— rob harris, The Seattle Times, "How soccer’s financial rules impact Neymar’s move to Paris," 3 Aug. 2017
UEFA is on the lookout for clubs who might try to outwit its financial regulators by inflating their income through companies linked to a club's owners.

— OregonLive.com, "Neymar's move to Paris Saint-Germain: Soccer's financial rules explained," 3 Aug. 2017
The Birmingham author has a gripping story to tell in her new novel, about a woman who's trapped at the zoo with her child, trying to evade and outwit some unidentified shooters.

— mary colurso, AL.com, "Things to do in Birmingham, July 23-29," 23 July 2017
In the Bering Sea, near the edge the continental shelf, fishermen are trying to escape a predator that seems to outwit them at every turn, stripping their fishing lines and lurking behind their vessels.

— suzanna caldwell, Alaska Dispatch News, "In a Bering Sea battle of killer whales vs. fishermen, the whales are winning," 19 June 2017
The rare ability helps some spiders outwit larger prey.

— National Geographic, "Spider Catches Prey by Shooting Webs," 14 June 2017
And for some shoppers, there’s a thrill in outwitting the stores.

— anne d'innocenzio, The Seattle Times, "Shoppers fixated with discounts pose big worry for stores," 9 June 2017
Adam was already committing much of his day to gaming, having learned to outwit the prohibitions imposed by his increasingly worried parents.

— john keilman, chicagotribune.com, "Are video games addictive like drugs, gambling? Some who've struggled say yes," 30 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'outwit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of outwit

circa 1630

outwit Synonyms

Synonyms

fox, outfox, outmaneuver, outslick, outsmart, outthink, overreach

Related Words

outguess, second-guess; baffle, balk, circumvent, foil, frustrate, thwart; cozen, deceive, dupe, fool, gull, trick; conquer, defeat, lick, overcome; bar, block, hinder, impede, obstruct

OUTWIT Defined for English Language Learners

outwit

play

verb

Definition of outwit for English Language Learners

: to defeat or trick (someone) by being more intelligent or clever

OUTWIT Defined for Kids

outwit

play

verb out·wit \ au̇t-ˈwit \

Definition of outwit for Students

outwitted; outwitting

:outsmart

Learn More about outwit

See words that rhyme with outwit Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for outwit Spanish Central: Translation of outwit Nglish: Translation of outwit for Spanish speakers

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outwit

Definition of outwit

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outwit

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