as in to outwit
to get the better of through cleverness
the prisoners outfoxed the guards by tunneling beneath the prison walls
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of outfox
No doubt remained that I’d been outfoxed.
—
Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2025
The target, thinking himself clever, buys and introduces the cards into the game, unwittingly outfoxed.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
In motorsport, Minis used their agility to outfox more powerful rivals, but here the engine no longer feels like a supporting act.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 30 July 2025
The most challenging part of a campaign for Crimea may not be outfoxing Russia.
—Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 2 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for outfox
Charles Elliott, Outdoor Life, 21 Aug. 2025
The target, thinking himself clever, buys and introduces the cards into the game, unwittingly outfoxed.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
In motorsport, Minis used their agility to outfox more powerful rivals, but here the engine no longer feels like a supporting act.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 30 July 2025
The most challenging part of a campaign for Crimea may not be outfoxing Russia.
—Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 2 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for outfox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outfox
Verb
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Probst, who grew up in the Seattle area and started his career here, is synonymous with the show that’s outlasted (and outwitted, and outplayed) any TV counterpart.—
Paige Cornwell,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
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Millions watched this new kind of reality TV competition show in the summer of 2000 to see players try to outwit, outplay and outlast each other while at the same time trying to survive.—
Christopher Kuhagen,
jsonline.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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TikToks promising secret loopholes, Reddit threads dissecting deductions and content creators insisting ways to outsmart the IRS.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Furthermore, Microsoft executives threw in their lot with the mercurial Altman, who doesn’t care at all about them and seems to outsmart them at every turn.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As their bold production takes shape, a rival white theatre mounts its own Richard III just blocks away, threatening to undermine, overshadow, and outmaneuver them.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
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Throughout the novels, characters tell stories to persuade, intimidate, and outmaneuver each other.—
Tim Brinkhof,
Big Think,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Right was thwarted by the pandemic).—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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He was thwarted by Sam two years ago, and Atterton has been desperate for revenge ever since, and has spent his time behind bars planning Sam’s downfall.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After the remaining contestants voted out Johnny Weir, Tara Lipinski and Eric Nam, Higgins was blindsided to discover her close ally, Rob Rausch, was deceiving her all along.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
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In addition, the complaint alleges that Walmart deceived customers by falsely claiming that 100% of customer tips would go to drivers.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Luka Doncic scored 44 points despite not playing the fourth quarter, and the Lakers defeated the struggling Indiana Pacers 128-117 on Friday night with LeBron James and Deandre Ayton out because of injury.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Birdville defeated Heritage 77-71 in the state semifinals last season before falling in the state title game to Beaumont West Brook in overtime.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sheriff Garry McFadden overcame a litany of scandals and a criminal investigation on Tuesday night, fending off challengers in the race for sheriff, according to unofficial election results.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Mar. 2026
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The Green Wave overcame a six-point deficit in the fourth quarter and forced OT on Younger’s baseline drive with 20 seconds remaining and Sauls’ layup with 10 seconds left.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That will require out-foxing Patriots defensive play-caller Zak Kuhr, whose pressure game plans suffocated the Chargers and Texans the past two weeks.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
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Having a robotic bear, rabbit, chicken or fox the size of a refrigerator coming after you in the dark was truly terrifying.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Outfox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outfox. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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