wise guy

noun

1
2
usually wiseguy : mobster

Examples of wise guy in a Sentence

Quit being a wise guy. No more wise-guy remarks, got it? a movie about two wiseguys
Recent Examples on the Web Tennessee is currently a 2.5-point favorite, an indication the wise guys believe Love is unlikely to play. Rob Reischel, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024 The wise guys prefer the Bucs’ Mike Evans to follow suit, but my money’s on Godwin. Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2024 Indeed, other scholars insist that the Gospel’s author did not mean for the Magi to be wise guys at all—or, rather, only in the strictly Scorsesean sense, as cheaters and scammers whose fake magic was humbled by the real revelation. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Dec. 2023 Also Abe Lincoln, but talkin’ like a real wise guy over here. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2023 See all Example Sentences for wise guy 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wise guy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wise guy was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near wise guy

Cite this Entry

“Wise guy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wise%20guy. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

wise guy

noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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