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
Ultimately, the most challenging part of a campaign for Crimea may not be outfoxing Russia.
—
Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 2 Jan. 2023
Japan, outfoxed by the stealthy maneuverer in the White House, had to recede.
—Robert W. Merry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
The governor’s better posture would be to concentrate on outmaneuvering and outfoxing Trump.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025
Situated in one of the game's smallest media markets, the Padres under General Manager A.J. Preller have spent lavishly and made a series of splashy acquisitions, but keep getting outfoxed by their upstate rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
—David Faris, theweek, 5 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for outfox
Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 2 Jan. 2023
Japan, outfoxed by the stealthy maneuverer in the White House, had to recede.
—Robert W. Merry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
The governor’s better posture would be to concentrate on outmaneuvering and outfoxing Trump.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025
Situated in one of the game's smallest media markets, the Padres under General Manager A.J. Preller have spent lavishly and made a series of splashy acquisitions, but keep getting outfoxed by their upstate rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
—David Faris, theweek, 5 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for outfox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outfox
Verb
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To save her muses and tarot deck, Pamela must outwit and out-magic Aleister with the help of old friends.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
24 June 2025
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My orchids can outwit other life forms, and so can my Venus flytrap (currently choking on a common house fly).—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 July 2025
Verb
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But authorities are confident Brown won’t outsmart them.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
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But as is often the case with singular rule and kingdoms built on lies and deception, the pathetic nuance of Richard is left bare as others outsmart him.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
30 July 2025
Verb
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Many construction projects fall under the California Environmental Quality Act, a regulation designed for public works that morphed into a tool to thwart unwanted development.—
Sam Bloch
August 8,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
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Cheating, thwarting that delicious competition, ruins the whole point for athletes and spectators alike.—
Lindsey Witmer Collins,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But appearances can be deceiving because there's a lot of bright side here.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
14 Aug. 2025
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Some Russian media commentators also note how Alaska was once Russian territory, sold by Tsar Alexander II to the United States for a pittance in 1867 Many observers, particularly Russian, are dismissing the meeting as a sign Trump has allowed Putin to once again deceive him.—
Patrick Reevell,
ABC News,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Kinloch closely defeated former THAW CEO Saunteel Jenkins in the city's Aug. 5 primary to advance in the race, according to unofficial vote results on the city's website.—
Dana Afana,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The Minutemen lost to East Carolina in the 1964 Tangerine Bowl in Orlando and defeated UC-Davis in the 1972 Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Padres are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to overcome the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League west.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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The narrative that Apple is behind in AI has been looming over the company all year – and some analysts see it as a more challenging issue to overcome than tariffs.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The speech also tackled an issue that has foxed previous governments: reforming the House of Lords.—
Jill Lawless,
The Christian Science Monitor,
17 July 2024
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Raccoon: Raccoon is very similar to fox but rarely comes in any other colors besides that of a typical raccoon which is naturally ombré.—
Liana Satenstein,
Marie Claire,
13 Feb. 2014
Cite this Entry
“Outfox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outfox. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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