Definition of outsmartnext
as in to outwit
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

Relevance

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 outsmart The family-friendly mythological comedy centers on eight ordinary mortals who must combine their wit and courage to outsmart formidable deities, earning the legendary status of the Eight Immortals. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 July 2026 The Fan, the season-long unsub obsessed with one-upping and outsmarting his idol. Joyce Eng, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026 Fedorov, meanwhile, represents technological innovation and a determination to outsmart the country’s more powerful invader. Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 21 July 2026 Outflanked by cruel and fickle gods at every turn, legendary Greek hero Odysseus outsmarted a one-eyed giant, suffered through the bewitching Sirens’ song and braved the Underworld’s dead denizens. Alex Pulaski, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for outsmart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outsmart
Verb
  • All season long, Ray and Sugar have been trying to outwit each other.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
  • To say that Cucurella was pleased, when the Spanish side outwitted the French in the semifinal, would be an understatement.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • After Jackson helped thwart a terror attack in Times Square in 2010, to his surprise, Parton came to visit him again after seeing him on TV.
    Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • As the writer and the actor spend time together, and the narrator tries to pry open some small window into M’s psyche, the process of gathering material is constantly being thwarted by M’s casual instructability.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The characters' abilities are built around outmaneuvering, not outgunning.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • For more than a decade, India’s leader Narendra Modi has seemed politically unassailable, presiding over a government that has outmaneuvered opponents, dominated public discourse and squeezed the space for dissent in the world’s biggest democracy.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Verb
  • Jury Duty has managed to deceive two unsuspecting do-gooders with civic duty and a company retreat.
    Peter White, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In this book’s scenario, an explosion at the Siberian lab sets loose a virus that has been designed to spread rapidly, deceive medical professionals, and produce a 100% fatality rate.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Taylor pitched a career-high 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings and was credited with the win as the Sox defeated the Twins 7-4 in front of 28,140.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Senate Leadership Fund, a political committee controlled by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, has committed to spending $44 million in Georgia in hopes of defeating Ossoff.
    Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • And then, with the game in the balance, Taylor’s two 3-pointers over the Valkyries — against man-to-man defense — was too much to overcome.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • This method could potentially be adapted for industrial manufacturing, but there were still limitations to overcome, with the biggest one being the quality of the material.
    Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2026
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
  • Whenever Rebecca can outfox him, Rupert manages to manipulate situations, which is how the Water sign aims to take control of matters.
    Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Sebastian Galeano fools the Lake Mary defense by carrying it himself and scampers 40 yards for the touchdown.
    Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Roughly 700 agents ultimately participated in attacks on Hugging Face as part of a broader effort to fool the scorer for a cybersecurity benchmark.
    Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outsmart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outsmart. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!