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
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Recent Examples of outwit
Twenty-six years ago, students treated a visit by then-President Bill Clinton as a challenge, and outwitted the Secret Service by secretly rigging a banner to unfurl at an inopportune moment.
—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
26 Apr. 2026
Bob Markle was good at outwitting violators.
—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Probst, who grew up in the Seattle area and started his career here, is synonymous with the show that’s outlasted (and outwitted, and outplayed) any TV counterpart.
—
Paige Cornwell,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
Millions watched this new kind of reality TV competition show in the summer of 2000 to see players try to outwit, outplay and outlast each other while at the same time trying to survive.
—
Christopher Kuhagen,
jsonline.com,
23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outwit
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
26 Apr. 2026
Bob Markle was good at outwitting violators.
—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Probst, who grew up in the Seattle area and started his career here, is synonymous with the show that’s outlasted (and outwitted, and outplayed) any TV counterpart.
—
Paige Cornwell,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
Millions watched this new kind of reality TV competition show in the summer of 2000 to see players try to outwit, outplay and outlast each other while at the same time trying to survive.
—
Christopher Kuhagen,
jsonline.com,
23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outwit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outwit
Verb
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The world’s leading superpower was outsmarted by Iran, perhaps because Iran’s secretary of defense took his job seriously.
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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.
Verb
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Novo and Lilly have sought to outmaneuver one another with price cuts for cash-paying customers whose insurance plans don't cover the medications.
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The series will also recreate pivotal moments from Carlos’ life, while Carr examines how Carlos outmaneuvered intelligence services before being captured.
Verb
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The group’s open letter calls on Bonta to take action to thwart the Ellison expansion effort.
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Nicolas Pepe had a shot from roughly 10 yards out that was thwarted by Norway goalkeeper Orjan Haskjold Nyland with his leg.
Verb
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Appearance, though, can be deceiving, but luckily, this shed is still packed with smart features and a clever design that will keep all your belongings safe.
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Here, however, the joke is that appearances can be deceiving — or to be more specific, that trying to act like a character in a movie is a reckless, unwise thing to do.
Verb
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Huffines defeated Kelly Hancock, a longtime Abbott ally who the governor appointed to the seat in July.
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In the early matchups, Ecuador upset Germany, Ivory Coast beat Curaçao 2-0, the Netherlands defeated Tunisia 3-1, and Japan and Sweden tied 1-1.
Verb
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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.
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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
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Liv Morgan begged for a tag, but she was outfoxed by a blind tag from Rhea Ripley.
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But even foxes can outfox themselves by their own designs.
Verb
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Don’t be fooled; this isn’t your typical museum.
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Don’t be fooled by its breezy ’60s-analog vintage pop sound.
Cite this Entry
“Outwit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outwit. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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