Thesaurus results for OUTSMARTED

outsmarted

verb

past tense of outsmart

as in outwitted

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 outsmarted After being humiliated and outsmarted when Julia escaped his grasp with Henry’s help in the season one finale, Lovat is presumably more dangerous than ever — and Henry will need to find a way back to save her once again. — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 For fun, its creator Antonio Prohias also introduced a third agent who often outsmarted both. — Will Townsend, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 This disease did not retreat because the bacterium weakened or because humanity outsmarted it. — Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 29 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 The world’s leading superpower was outsmarted by Iran, perhaps because Iran’s secretary of defense took his job seriously. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026 Meanwhile, Tyreese is outsmarted by the Terminus Tiger Fan, who grabs baby Judith and threatens to snap her neck unless Tyreese walks unarmed into a herd of walkers outside. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026 And some of the bees that technically failed the test may have actually outsmarted their contemporaries—by learning to work smarter, not harder. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 4 June 2026 Instead of drafting franchise cornerstones in JaMarr Chase or Penei Sewell, ex-GM Chris Grier outsmarted himself. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for outsmarted

Verb

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
For Deschamps and Stephan, there was no shortage of blame after Spain’s Luis de la Fuente outwitted the French coaching staff for the third time, following wins at the 2024 European Championship and last year’s Nations League semi-final.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of outwitted

Verb

Breakker was on the mend as Femi defeated Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42, won the King of the Ring Tournament and seemingly ended Lesnar’s career at SummerSlam.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
The Tigers already defeated potential CFP challengers UNLV 27-21 on the road.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of defeated

Verb

Furious at having been deceived her whole life, Kylie hops on the next plane to the Owens’ ancestral home in England with the intent of breaking the curse once and for all.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Now some say the operation has left them feeling deceived and questioning whether the White House considered their safety.

— Scott Nover, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of deceived

Verb

As the years go by, babies are born, parents get sick and die, careers are started then ended, wives and husbands are thwarted, and, eventually, sheets are strewn and booties are tapped.

— Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
That was before Shohei Ohtani’s two-way ambitions were thwarted, the lineup turned frigid and the legitimacy of Mark Walter’s entire business empire came into question.

— Andy McCullough, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of thwarted

Verb

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
In the end, Seattle outmaneuvered and outbodied the Sparks, snatching steals and flipping the ball around the perimeter until the Storm fired off a shot.

— Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of outmaneuvered

Verb

Earlier in the game, he was fooled on a flea-flicker, and his pass-interference penalty set up the Patriots’ lone touchdown.

— Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Don’t be fooled by the film’s advertising, which features an image of Neeson’s scowling visage dwarfing Levi aiming an automatic weapon.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of fooled

Verb

The Bulls overcame a sloppy night penalty-wise, being flagged 15 times for 140 yards, including two penalties that wiped out touchdowns.

— Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
Maye overcame the first two picks to drive the Patriots into position to tie or take the lead in the final minute.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of overcame

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outsmart

outsmarted

outsmarting

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“Outsmarted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outsmarted. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of outsmarted

verb

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