as in outsmarting
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 outwitting
Similar storm-clouds are now gathering around Sánchez, a canny politician known for outwitting his opponents.
—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
Bob Markle was good at outwitting violators.
—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Folktales are filled with people fighting to survive in forests, steppes, and deserts, and evading and outwitting the wild beasts that dwell within them.
—
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
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
Time and Numbers—there’s no outwitting them.
—
Joy Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 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
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
Bob Markle was good at outwitting violators.
—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Folktales are filled with people fighting to survive in forests, steppes, and deserts, and evading and outwitting the wild beasts that dwell within them.
—
Literary Hub,
18 Feb. 2026
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
Time and Numbers—there’s no outwitting them.
—
Joy Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outwitting
Verb
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Selecting a college major is not an exercise in outsmarting the admissions system.
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Mosquitoes just might be outsmarting us Mosquitoes may be beating us at our own game − by making repellent attractive.
Verb
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The first ever major league game to be played in Europe resulted in the Yankees defeating the Red Sox 17-13 in front of 60,000 spectators at London Olympic Stadium.
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The team displayed impressive form in the preliminary tournament qualifiers, winning all eight of its matches, scoring 37 goals, and defeating four-time World Cup champions Italy twice.
Verb
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Yet, Rob-Will walked out of rehab, and is intent on thwarting the ceremonial ranch handover to heir-apparent Joaquin.
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Alexander defeated Slater for the X Division Championship a few weeks ago, thwarting Slater’s chance at becoming the longest reigning X Division champion of all time.
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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Two generals agreed with Ashley's characterization, stressing the view that on the front lines, Ukraine was outmaneuvering Russia.
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Rather than overpowering them with brute force, German forces managed to defeat the French and British forces in the Battle of France (1940) by simply outmaneuvering them.
Verb
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The strategies aim to do away with piecemeal approaches to overcoming the unique challenges that islands and coastal communities face, offering a comprehensive approach, said Raffaele Fitto, European Commission executive vice president for cohesion and reforms.
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How did overcoming addiction play a role in this album?
Verb
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Speaking on Harvard Business School’s The Founder Mindset podcast, hosted by senior lecturer and serial entrepreneur Reza Satchu, the Shark Tank investor argued that anyone trying to balance a young company against the rest of their life is fooling themselves.
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The other is fooling humans, particularly the dwindling number of journalists, critics, and other gatekeepers who are still capable of conferring legitimacy by paying attention.
Cite this Entry
“Outwitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outwitting. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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