as in to outsmart
to get the better of through cleverness
a plan to outwit their opponents at their own game
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Recent Examples of outwit
Cross goes on the run with Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz) in a race to outwit the assassins and reveal the truth.
—
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2025
Wednesday thinks she’s outwitted her opponents, but her plan to have Thing ready at the crossbow to take out Isaac-Slurp is thwarted when — dun dun DUNNNN!
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Ben Shapiro, Pete Buttigieg, Michael Knowles, Alex O’Connor—these are professional debaters capable of outwitting and outreasoning almost any audience member unfamiliar with traditional debate techniques, regardless of the topic or claim being considered.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Radicals had somehow gained a foothold, outwitting their elders in an argument over what constituted learning, contesting even such notions as freedom and citizenship.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outwit
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2025
Wednesday thinks she’s outwitted her opponents, but her plan to have Thing ready at the crossbow to take out Isaac-Slurp is thwarted when — dun dun DUNNNN!
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Ben Shapiro, Pete Buttigieg, Michael Knowles, Alex O’Connor—these are professional debaters capable of outwitting and outreasoning almost any audience member unfamiliar with traditional debate techniques, regardless of the topic or claim being considered.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Radicals had somehow gained a foothold, outwitting their elders in an argument over what constituted learning, contesting even such notions as freedom and citizenship.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outwit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outwit
Verb
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Successive Iranian rulers believed that dams, deep wells, and inter-basin transfers could outsmart geography and climate.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
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Body wallet To outsmart Air France’s 12-kilogram carry-on cap, try strapping as much to your body.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Through the streets of World War I Paris, the bohemian artist attempts to outmaneuver bombs, policemen, girlfriends, and critics in an increasingly desperate search of a home for his art.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
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Alongside her estranged husband Ryan, the devout Moses (Hill), and new allies Samson (Feliz) and Delilah (Obsidian), Virginia must outmaneuver billionaire cult leader Luther Bell, played with magnetic menace by Esposito.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Animals like squirrels, chipmunks, and deer often thwart gardeners' efforts by digging up or eating flowering bulbs.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Oct. 2025
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Hurling a few 12-to-6 knee-bucklers can thwart the opponent’s smooth rhythm.—
Jim Root,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the decades that followed, Freeman, who died in 2025, assembled a vast array of literary fakes, collecting books whose content is deceiving in nature.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
13 Oct. 2025
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Experts have warned that such videos may go viral and deceive voters, potentially increasing voter distrust in the media and political system more generally.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Las Vegas Aces defeat the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the championship.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Oct. 2025
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Summit was 4-1 overall and 3-0 in district play and had won four straight, defeating Mansfield, Burleson, Grapevine and The Colony heading into the game.—
Jordan Neal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Rough Riders overcame a furious Arlington Heights rally in the third quarter and used a late goal-line stand to shock the Yellow Jackets in a 50-47 thriller.—
Updated October 10,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Oct. 2025
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Johnson’s familiarity is key to bringing audiences close to Kerr and helps the film overcome its potentially alienating storyline.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Los Angeles had already outfoxed the 49ers in 2021 by trading for Matthew Stafford, who was also on Shanahan’s radar.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
2 Oct. 2025
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He was outfoxed, outplayed and frustrated by the calm version of Daniil Medvedev in 2023, and lost in straight sets to Botic van De Zandschulp in the second round last year.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Do not let the dashing green velvet suit, the yellow leather gloves, the silk cravat or the pencil-thin mustache, a tonsorial touch that suggests the matinee idols of yesteryear, fool you.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
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But don’t be fooled into thinking that’s the norm.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Outwit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outwit. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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