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outwit

verb

ˌau̇t-ˈwit How to pronounce outwit (audio)
Definition of outwitnext
as in to outsmart
to get the better of through cleverness a plan to outwit their opponents at their own game

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 outwit Watch crafty servant Scapin spin outrageous webs of disguise and deception to help a band of young lovers outwit their impossibly miserly fathers. — News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026 Similar storm-clouds are now gathering around Sánchez, a canny politician known for outwitting his opponents. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 21 June 2026 Out of the first 3,000 participants, only three adults managed to outwit the kids and win the million-dollar grand prize. — Greg Petro, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 The Bed Rot Challenge is a new reality competition web series in which stars from Survivor, The Traitors, Love Island USA, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, The Bachelorette, and Beast Games will attempt to outwit and outlast each other… on a bed. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for outwit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outwit
  1. outsmart
  2. outmaneuver
  3. thwart
  4. deceive
  5. defeat
  6. overcome
  7. outfox
  8. fool
Verb
  • The incident has been viewed as a warning sign for how AI models are learning to outsmart their human creators.
    — Elizabeth Schulze, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026
  • But his efforts to outsmart the bond market – the deepest and most important market on the planet – have not lived up to the hype.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of outsmart
Verb
  • Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers’ coach who doubles as McVay’s friend, mentor and nemesis, outmaneuvered McVay again.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The characters' abilities are built around outmaneuvering, not outgunning.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of outmaneuver
Verb
  • There is no reasonable way to put in restrictions to prevent the use of tools to build bioweapons without thwarting progress in the next generation of therapies.
    — Ashish K. Jha, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In some cases, state policies to lower these taxes are thwarted.
    — Vidya Mani, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of thwart
Verb
  • While self-driving cars learn from static obstacles, fraud models must navigate environments where every variable is actively attempting to deceive the system.
    — Wayne Hamilton, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Pitinan Packable Rain Jacket With Hood, $27 Packing for a short weekend getaway is deceiving.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of deceive
Verb
  • It’s been around forever, packs a punch, and helped us defeat the Nazis in World War II.
    — John B. Snow, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Florida’s new law is a compromise that the industry, which defeated other legislative efforts previously, can live with comfortably.
    — Mike Ryan, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of defeat
Verb
  • Social and playful 694 faces Katmai Brady Bunch member 620, while two bears that overcame incredible odds, 610 and 89 (Backpack), vie for votes in the other first round fight.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2026
  • At a meeting of the group's board, the governors unveiled a 66-project blueprint to get things started while acknowledging enormous hurdles that must still be overcome.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of overcome
Verb
  • Gauff dug in, matched Badosa’s power, and outfoxed her when the opportunities arose.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of outfox
Verb
  • Trey Owens fooled the TCU defense with a 34-yard keeper on third-and-1 to get inside the 10-yard line.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The second season of The Paper is a sitcom trying to fool itself.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of fool

Browse Nearby Words

outweighs
outwit
outwits
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outwit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outwit. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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