1
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
her sharp-witted questions always cut right to the core of the issue
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind
a TV game show that allows sharp-witted contestants to show their stuff
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of sharp-witted
Ripa was playing chess — not checkers — with this bold Beth Harmon outfit, perfectly recreating Anya Taylor-Joy’s sharp-witted character from The Queen’s Gambit.
—
Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
On Christmas Eve, Cliff (Strassner), a down-on-his luck comedian who can’t catch a break, chips a tooth, and suddenly finds himself in the late-night care of Didi (Liz Larsen), a sharp-witted, no-nonsense dentist.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
After Diablo Cody’s Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay for Juno (2007), the screenwriter followed up the breakout hit with this sharp-witted, gory take on female rage and power dynamics.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2025
Known primarily for his genre-defining work in music, Rocky’s latest turn as Yung Felon — a sharp-witted, ambitious rap artist — places him directly alongside screen legend Denzel Washington in some of the film’s most talked-about scenes.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
On Christmas Eve, Cliff (Strassner), a down-on-his luck comedian who can’t catch a break, chips a tooth, and suddenly finds himself in the late-night care of Didi (Liz Larsen), a sharp-witted, no-nonsense dentist.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
After Diablo Cody’s Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay for Juno (2007), the screenwriter followed up the breakout hit with this sharp-witted, gory take on female rage and power dynamics.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2025
Known primarily for his genre-defining work in music, Rocky’s latest turn as Yung Felon — a sharp-witted, ambitious rap artist — places him directly alongside screen legend Denzel Washington in some of the film’s most talked-about scenes.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharp-witted
Adjective
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Food systems now account for about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, but scientists say regenerative agriculture and climate-smart farming can help flip that into a future where farms also help grow climate solutions.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Gerard Damiano was a smart guy, a hairdresser from the Bronx who directed Deep Throat and the follow-up, Devil in Miss Jones, which were killing it at the box office, high up on Variety’s Top 50 list of the highestgrossing films.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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For the first time, a machine was able to do what only intelligent humans had previously done.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Nov. 2025
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Humans have a much larger neocortex than other animals, relative to body size, and the species with the largest neocortices—elephants, dolphins, gorillas, chimpanzees, dogs—are among the most intelligent.—
James Somers,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But astute viewers will see some other familiar, and perhaps surprising, rock ‘n’ roll faces in the production.—
Gary Graff,
Billboard,
25 Oct. 2025
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Senne Lammens continuing his composed start to his United career could at least counteract those types of chances for Brighton, while Amorim’s defenders will need to be astute to the movement of Hurzeler’s front-line.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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A lot of clever stuff goes into this.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
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This clever coffee table’s top lifts smoothly and locks into place to create a dining area or workspace.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Well, in a shrewd bit of scheduling, just as its fifth series concludes, Apple TV is premiering yet another Mick Herron adaptation centered around the bumbling inner workings of British government, starring an Oscar-winning national treasure to boot.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
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The soap opera veteran, who has spent more than five decades playing farm girl–turned–shrewd businesswoman Maggie Horton, recently revealed her cancer battle during a conversation with TV Insider.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Green was quick to point out that every team that has won a championship featured a strong defense.—
Jordy Fee-Platt,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
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Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Lindsay, our costume designer, was brilliant.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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At its center is a mysterious oligarch whose influence stretches across Manhattan and beyond – protected by a network of fixers, enablers and a brilliant young strategist.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Ride-hailing revenue grew 17% year-on-year to $317 million, deliveries grew 23% to $465 million, and financial services had the fastest growth at 39% to $90 million.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
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The breakthrough dramatically boosts the power of attosecond light used to probe the fastest electron motions in atoms and materials.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sharp-witted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharp-witted. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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