outsmarting

verb

present participle of outsmart
as in outwitting
to get the better of through cleverness an inexpensive security system that would likely be outsmarted by anyone with a serious interest in circumventing it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of outsmarting The problem, according to Hinton, is that humans will no longer be able to rely on outsmarting super-intelligent AI models. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 The Fan, the season-long unsub obsessed with one-upping and outsmarting his idol. — Joyce Eng, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026 Selecting a college major is not an exercise in outsmarting the admissions system. — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 Mosquitoes just might be outsmarting us Mosquitoes may be beating us at our own game − by making repellent attractive. — Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 13 June 2026 Not for the faint-hearted, but catnip for that certain type who’s made a fortune by outsmarting competing hedge fund managers or private equity firms. — Andrés Martinez, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026 There’s no outsmarting capitalism. — Kyle Cheromcha, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026 These clips often use humor and pop‑culture aesthetics—even LEGO‑style animations—to show Iran’s late supreme leader outsmarting and humiliating his American adversaries. — Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 Predicting mosquito behavior is a first step toward outsmarting them. — David Hu, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outsmarting
  1. outwitting
  2. defeating
  3. deceiving
  4. thwarting
  5. outmaneuvering
  6. overcoming
  7. fooling
  8. outfoxing
Verb
  • Similar storm-clouds are now gathering around Sánchez, a canny politician known for outwitting his opponents.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
  • Bob Markle was good at outwitting violators.
    — Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of outwitting
Verb
  • Northern California received a boost with Folsom defeating Mission Viejo 35-21.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Botic van de Zandschulp, who knocked Carlos Alcaraz out of this event two years ago, is into the fourth round after defeating Zizou Bergs 3-6, 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of defeating
Verb
  • Williams will not be charged because Heggebo’s offence was successfully deceiving a match official.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Your eyes aren't deceiving you — the little delivery robots rolling down Washington DC streets are becoming a more common sight.
    — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceiving
Verb
  • Oregon is one of the only states in the country with a carve-out in its public records law that prevents disclosing the financial details of subsidized housing projects, thwarting researchers and journalists who have tried to examine their costs.
    — Rob Davis, ProPublica, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Ed Yardeni isn’t worried about the sharp rise in sovereign bond yields thwarting stocks.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of thwarting
Verb
  • The characters' abilities are built around outmaneuvering, not outgunning.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • May built one of the most dominant teams in Big Ten history by outmaneuvering his peers in the transfer portal.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of outmaneuvering
Verb
  • This design continually reflects the laser inside the stream via total internal reflection, overcoming the need for focal-point or Rayleigh-length adjustments.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Augusto, Marrero, Hernández and countless others have little choice but to figure things out which, in Cuban parlance, means overcoming whatever obstacle is placed in their way.
    — Juan Carlos López, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of overcoming
Verb
  • In the highlight, Marshall retrieves the ball and oddly fires it back to the infield, fooling no one.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Anybody hoping that a Netanyahu defeat in October and the emergence of a less controversial successor will reset the table is likely fooling themselves.
    — Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of fooling
Verb
  • Both candidates attempted to court voters by outfoxing each other in their support of the then-former president and the race became increasingly negative.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of outfoxing

Browse Nearby Words

outsmarted
outsmarting
outsmarts
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Cite this Entry

“Outsmarting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outsmarting. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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