1
as in cute
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred
you wouldn't be so smart-alecky if you were the one having the surgery
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
smart-alecky comments from a coworker about her new clothes
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of smart-alecky
Cleverbot veers from sounding like a winsome waif to coming across as a drunk, smart-alecky fifteen-year-old who talks in non sequiturs.
—
Patricia Marx, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Patricia Marx, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smart-alecky
Adjective
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Mankinlu Maple Leaf Solar Pathway Lights As daylight starts to fade earlier, these cute pathway lights add both charm and function to your yard.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
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The easiest fix for the age-old struggle between cute and comfy?—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The kicking game was so bad that Freeman sounded like Brian Kelly at his sarcastic best when asked about Noah Burnette, Erik Schmidt and Marcello Diomede combining to miss two extra points and one field goal.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Reactions to the freestyle depended on whether or not you were tuned into its sarcastic frequency.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This casual long-sleeve sweater dress features a playful V-neck and cute, subtle slits on the sides of the bottom hem.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Oct. 2025
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The October show, held at The Highline Hotel Ballroom, was a playful, artisanal and on-trend display of the work Pietrafesa has been creating into her ready-to-wear brand since its launch in 2014.—
Emily Mercer,
Footwear News,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The satirical newscast’s correspondents have been taking turns filling in the rest of the week.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
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Court records show that SpaceX, the rocket company founded in 2002 by billionaire Elon Musk, has settled a lawsuit filed in 2024 by Cards Against Humanity, the maker of the popular satirical party game of the same name.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Coffee is a naturally acidic beverage, and drinking it can affect the acid content in your stomach.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
29 Oct. 2025
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That Hedda has forged such a life for herself is a testament to her wiles — no one is more adept at delivering acidic barbs cloaked by a friendly hand on the shoulder.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smart-alecky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smart-alecky. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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