as in to outwit
to get the better of through cleverness
the company's growth is due in large part to its marketing division's ability to outthink the competition
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 outthink
Some of the game’s biggest stars have already voiced frustration over trying to outthink the robots.
—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Digital computers may eventually outthink us, but that will remain all action without experience.
—
Shai Tubali,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
As loyalties blur and tensions erupt, survival depends on who can outthink – and outgun – everyone else.
—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
The real edge is in responsiveness − the ability to outthink, outproduce and outmaneuver its competitor.
—
Andrew Latham,
The Conversation,
29 Oct. 2025
Altman, always the AI optimist, has previously touted AI’s potential to someday outthink humans, but the technology’s past three years of progress since OpenAI kicked off the AI arms race with ChatGPT’s release have shown him this moment could come sooner rather than later.
—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
26 Sep. 2025
Geoff Hinton, one of the most influential voices in artificial intelligence, warned that humanity is running out of time to prepare for machines that outthink us.
—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
And if this isn’t an isolated incident, then this presents a huge problem for the remnants of humanity, most of whom have survived through a mixture of luck and simply being able to outthink these single-minded creatures.
—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
13 Apr. 2025
Perhaps the shape rotators are convinced that computers can outthink us because their own minds are so impoverished.
—
Becca Rothfeld,
Washington Post,
26 June 2024
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Digital computers may eventually outthink us, but that will remain all action without experience.
—
Shai Tubali,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
As loyalties blur and tensions erupt, survival depends on who can outthink – and outgun – everyone else.
—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
The real edge is in responsiveness − the ability to outthink, outproduce and outmaneuver its competitor.
—
Andrew Latham,
The Conversation,
29 Oct. 2025
Altman, always the AI optimist, has previously touted AI’s potential to someday outthink humans, but the technology’s past three years of progress since OpenAI kicked off the AI arms race with ChatGPT’s release have shown him this moment could come sooner rather than later.
—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
26 Sep. 2025
Geoff Hinton, one of the most influential voices in artificial intelligence, warned that humanity is running out of time to prepare for machines that outthink us.
—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
And if this isn’t an isolated incident, then this presents a huge problem for the remnants of humanity, most of whom have survived through a mixture of luck and simply being able to outthink these single-minded creatures.
—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
13 Apr. 2025
Perhaps the shape rotators are convinced that computers can outthink us because their own minds are so impoverished.
—
Becca Rothfeld,
Washington Post,
26 June 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outthink
Verb
-
Similar storm-clouds are now gathering around Sánchez, a canny politician known for outwitting his opponents.
-
Out of the first 3,000 participants, only three adults managed to outwit the kids and win the million-dollar grand prize.
Verb
-
Mosquitoes just might be outsmarting us Mosquitoes may be beating us at our own game − by making repellent attractive.
-
In research released Monday, Amazon scientists Gaurav Gupta and Vatshank Chaturvedi document in careful technical detail why AI agents have a persistent tendency to outsmart themselves—and why fixing the problem requires rethinking the entire layer of software between the model and its tools.
Verb
-
The question is no longer whether Vannacci will influence the vote, but whether Meloni can contain, co-opt or outmaneuver her challenger.
-
The question, analysts say, is no longer whether Vannacci will influence the vote, but whether Meloni can contain, co-opt or outmaneuver a challenger carving out political space to her right.
Verb
-
The thing is, a lot of people have a talent for deceiving the public.
-
Park and weather officials alike emphasize to Grand Canyon visitors that hiking conditions can be deceiving.
Verb
-
In the 31st minute, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi received the ball downfield in front of the box but was thwarted by Haiti's goalkeeper Johny Placide.
-
Starmer’s attempt to tackle Britain’s spiralling benefits bill was thwarted by his own MPs.
Verb
-
Rather than be benched, Devers batted cleanup, overcame an 0-for-3 start, and singled up the middle in the seventh to score Bryce Eldridge, who narrowly beat a tag at the plate for a 3-1 lead.
-
Its highly specialized strategy likely evolved to take advantage of the ant’s natural aggression and then overcome its defenses; the slingshot mechanism flings the ant from the foraging trail, reducing the risk that the spider will be swarmed by other workers, the researchers hypothesized.
Verb
-
And the resounding manner of Burnham’s win – comprehensively defeating Reform weeks after Labour was routed in local elections – gives him considerable momentum too.
-
Scotland, which defeated Haiti 1-0 on the same field last Friday, likely would need to beat or draw Brazil in its group-stage finale in Miami to qualify for the Round of 32.
Verb
-
Liv Morgan begged for a tag, but she was outfoxed by a blind tag from Rhea Ripley.
-
But even foxes can outfox themselves by their own designs.
Cite this Entry
“Outthink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outthink. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
