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
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Recent Examples of outthink
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
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
-
The characters here, though, are nowhere near so smart as those conniving pagans and can only dream of outwitting the sophisticated folk from the mainland, coming there with their talk of cake, and comfy chairs, and their lies.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Her adrenal gland would begin to work overtime and she’d be lifted up, energized, hunted, and desperate to outwit her attacker and survive.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There’s also the Travelon Anti-theft Classic Mini Shoulder Bag designed to outsmart pickpockets, plus the Taygeer Travel Backpack that can easily replace your carry-on.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Williams did not play the cool heel or try to outsmart everyone.—
Rob Wolkenbrod,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
We are frequently being outmaneuvered, crushed, or ignored.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Legal experts told the American-Statesman at the time that the case reflected the agency’s increasingly common use of speed and technical arguments to outmaneuver attorney’s efforts to slow deportations.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Although appearances can be deceiving.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Ah, but appearances can be deceiving.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This all-consuming love, thwarted in the book by circumstances, has flourished beyond its pages.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Then Lord Blackwood tries to enact a plan that involves poisoning much of Parliament, and he’s finally thwarted in a third-act fight sequence that plays out on top of London’s Tower Bridge, then in construction.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Environmental justice advocates say that, in the past, vulnerable communities viewed the federal government as an ally to overcome roadblocks with local and state governments to access resources.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
And none have the same late-season baggage to overcome as the Red Wings.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch also spoke before his squad defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
These therapies are not universally successful, of course, but can often save lives and defeat cancers where other methods are unsuccessful.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Liv Morgan begged for a tag, but she was outfoxed by a blind tag from Rhea Ripley.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
But even foxes can outfox themselves by their own designs.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outthink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outthink. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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