Definition of sharp-wittednext
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as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind a TV game show that allows sharp-witted contestants to show their stuff

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 sharp-witted Forced into an uneasy alliance with a sharp-witted poacher living on the margins of society (Kellyman), the two women fight back, turning their powerlessness into strength through violence, wit, and defiance. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2026 Curtis is set to step into the role of Jessica Fletcher, the sharp-witted mystery writer and amateur detective famously portrayed by Angela Lansbury in the original television series. Staff Author, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 They’ll be joined by Downton Abbey‘s Julian Ovenden as the suave, sophisticated Dexter Haven, Carly Mercedes Dyer (Anything Goes) as the sharp-witted Liz, Nigel Lindsay (Mobland) as Uncle Willie, and Malcolm Sinclair (Pie in the Sky) as Seth Lord. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026 Before Uncle Sam, other figures represented the young country, including Yankee Doodle, once a British insult aimed at American colonials, and Brother Jonathan, a sharp-witted embodiment of American common sense. Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Mar. 2026 Abbington plays Eve, a sharp-witted, slightly off-kilter actress whose obsession with the case pulls her into the investigative orbit and complicates the group dynamic. Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026 More than 40 years after Paula Poundstone first appeared on late-night, the comedian is still performing her sharp-witted brand of comedy. Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026 In the film, Tyler, the Creator — credited under his full name, Tyler Okonma — plays Wally, a sharp-witted taxi driver who, like Chalamet’s Marty Mauser, is a ping-pong obsessive. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2025 And Sister Bernadette, 88, regularly shares sharp-witted observations about matters both sacred and secular over a ritual cup of coffee. Esme Nicholson, NPR, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharp-witted
Adjective
  • January 20 – February 18 A smarter routine or work shift could make life feel noticeably lighter today.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
  • Aquarius January 20 – February 18 A smarter routine or work shift could make life feel noticeably lighter today.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • The next is making the grid intelligent enough to absorb that power at scale—flexible, predictive, and reliable.
    Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
  • An immersive, intelligent debut.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • An astute judge of talent, Metheny has hired and nurtured a fair number of outstanding musicians in his bands over the years from far and near.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
  • Tactful and politically astute, Pakula had earlier directed The Parallax View, the Warren Beatty thriller about political assassinations.
    Peter Bart, Deadline, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • Its hero is Miss Maple, certainly the cleverest sheep in the flock, probably the cleverest sheep in the village of Glennkill, and maybe the cleverest sheep in the world.
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
  • But this is a clever essay about making sense of the ambiguous advice that people love to dispense, from someone who is willing to explain which ones actually proved helpful to his own film journey.
    Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • But another Cox trade — sending pitcher Doyle Alexander to Detroit for a minor-leaguer named John Smoltz in 1987 — is considered one of the shrewdest in baseball history.
    Mark Bradley for the AJC, AJC.com, 9 May 2026
  • Twice, its shrewd business practices caught federal regulators’ attention.
    Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • The reactive Moon opposes Mars, creating tension between quick reactions and thoughtful dialogue.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
  • But, a host of hotels are just a quick zip from Malé.
    Shradha Shahani, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Guests were served canapes including a surprisingly brilliant mango and mung bean tartare plus chicken teriyaki kebabs, all washed down with elegant Hugo Spritz and espresso martinis.
    Partner Content, Variety, 9 May 2026
  • Co-produced by visionary Spanish helmer El Guincho (of Rosalía and FKA Twigs fame) TURR4ZO is darkly hued and cinematic, infused by dozens of brilliant samples that pay tribute to the richness of Argentina’s music culture.
    Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2026
Adjective
  • Berlin turned out to be too warm for a fast time, but Adidas and Sawe continued the arrangement this year.
    Alex Hutchinson, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
  • But there’s something incredibly unnatural about the fast attention of the internet.
    Charlie Harding, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sharp-witted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharp-witted. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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