wittier; wittiest
1
: marked by or full of clever humor or wit : smartly facetious or jocular
a witty novel
2
: quick or ready to see or express illuminating or amusing relationships or insights
a witty raconteur
3
: amusingly or ingeniously clever in conception or execution
… the costumes are sumptuous and witty …—
Virgil Thomson
Virgil Thomsonthe musical background is … often witty—Wolcott Gibbs
Wolcott Gibbs4
archaic
: having good intellectual capacity : intelligent
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Witty and Wise
When we call someone witty, we are typically ascribing to them the quality of clever humor. This has not always been the case: witty (and the word it is formed from, wit) originally referred to intelligence or good judgment. Although the “mentally capable” meaning of witty has largely become obsolete, we still see vestiges of it in various expressions involving wit, such as wit and wisdom or out of one’s wits. Another phrase, to wit, meaning “that is, namely,” comes directly from the Middle English to witen (“to know”).
Examples of witty in a Sentence
We'd kept everything witty and cool, until the air between us was so ironized that to say anything in earnest would have been a breach of manners, even of trust.
—Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003
… when she walked up to me and made a caustic remark on the principal's address of the morning, I couldn't help laughing, as she was obviously not only intelligent but very witty.
—Margaret A. Edwards, The Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts, 1994
Yet for all his solemnity, Hamlet was also the play's and Shakespeare's wittiest wit, with as many one-liners as any comic in the whole canon.
—Reed Whittemore, Pure Lives, 1988
a witty talk show host
a witty and sardonic blogger who never fails to amuse his legion of readers
Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003
… when she walked up to me and made a caustic remark on the principal's address of the morning, I couldn't help laughing, as she was obviously not only intelligent but very witty.
—Margaret A. Edwards, The Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts, 1994
Yet for all his solemnity, Hamlet was also the play's and Shakespeare's wittiest wit, with as many one-liners as any comic in the whole canon.
—Reed Whittemore, Pure Lives, 1988
a witty talk show host
a witty and sardonic blogger who never fails to amuse his legion of readers
Recent Examples on the Web
Through witty and accessible reflections of his life and ideas, the book offers a compelling introduction to how philosophy is both a way of thinking and living.
—Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
He is viewed by players as both a witty and knowledgeable scout.
—Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 28 May 2026
There’s also good dialogue—witty and world-building, instead of merely expository.
—Ian MacKenzie, Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
Pressure is directed by Hotel Mumbai’s Anthony Maras, and as adapted with David Haig from the latter’s stage play, it’s structured as a sharp ticking-clock thriller while surprisingly light on its feet with witty dialogue.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for witty
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Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
He is viewed by players as both a witty and knowledgeable scout.
—Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 28 May 2026
There’s also good dialogue—witty and world-building, instead of merely expository.
—Ian MacKenzie, Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
Pressure is directed by Hotel Mumbai’s Anthony Maras, and as adapted with David Haig from the latter’s stage play, it’s structured as a sharp ticking-clock thriller while surprisingly light on its feet with witty dialogue.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for witty
Cite this Entry
“Witty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witty. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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