Thesaurus

wit

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of wit

1 a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor

the pundits and political wits will get a lot of mileage out of the senator's latest gaffe

Synonyms of wit

card, comedian, comic, droll, farceur, funnyman, gagger, gagman, gagster, humorist, jester, joker, jokester, wag

Words Related to wit

comedienne, entertainer

banterer, cutup, kidder, knockabout, practical joker, prankster, quipper, quipster, teaser, wisecracker

buffoon, clown, fool, harlequin, zany

caricaturist, lampooner, parodist, satirist

2 the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters

he doesnʼt even have the wit to know when to come in out of the rain

Synonyms of wit

common sense, discreetness, discretion, gumption [chiefly dialect], horse sense, levelheadedness, nous [chiefly British], policy, prudence, sense, sensibleness, wisdom

Words Related to wit

farsightedness, forehandedness, foresight, foresightedness, forethoughtfulness, judgment (or judgement)

brains, gray matter, intelligence

logicality, logicalness, practicality, rationality, rationalness

discernment, discrimination, insight, sagacity, sapience

acumen, astuteness, clearheadedness, keenness, penetration, perspicacity, shrewdness

care, caution, circumspection, precaution, premeditation

Near Antonyms of wit

shortsightedness

brainlessness, foolishness, half-wittedness, idiocy, senselessness, stupidity

carelessness, heedlessness

unreasonableness

Antonyms of wit

imprudence, indiscretion

3 usually wits plural the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities

scared out of her wits

Synonyms of wit

daylights, head, marbles, mind, reason, saneness, sanity

Words Related to wit

rationality, reasonableness, sense

health, healthfulness, healthiness, wholesomeness

clearheadedness, lucidity, lucidness, normalcy, normality, soundness

Near Antonyms of wit

delusion, hallucination

delirium, frenzy, hysteria

Antonyms of wit

dementia, derangement, insanity, lunacy, madness, mania, unreason

4 exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters

lacked the wit to see that the war was unwinnable

Synonyms of wit

acumen, astuteness, caginess (also cageyness), canniness, clear-sightedness, foxiness, hardheadedness, intelligence, keenness, knowingness, sharpness, shrewdness

Words Related to wit

discernment, insight, perception, perceptiveness, perceptivity, percipience, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sapience, wisdom

artfulness, artifice, craft, craftiness, cunning, deviousness, guile, slickness, slyness, sneakiness, subtleness, subtlety, wiliness

brain(s), gray matter, intellect, reason, sense

Near Antonyms of wit

artlessness, greenness, guilelessness, ingenuousness, innocence, naiveness, naïveté (also naivete), simplemindedness, simpleness, simplicity, unsophistication, unworldliness

brainlessness, density, doltishness, dopiness, dumbness, fatuity, foolishness, half-wittedness, mindlessness, oafishness, obtuseness, senselessness, slowness, stupidity, stupidness, vacuity, witlessness

Synonym Discussion of wit

wit, humor, irony, sarcasm, satire, repartee mean a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement. wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous.

- a playful wit

humor implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these usually without bitterness.

- a sense of humor

irony applies to a manner of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed.

- the irony of the title

sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound.

- given to heartless sarcasm

satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature.

- a satire on the Congress

repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily.

- a dinner guest noted for repartee

Learn More about wit

See words that rhyme with wit Dictionary: Definition of wit Spanish Central: Translation of wit Nglish: Translation of wit for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of wit for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wit

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up wit? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

decoct

to boil down or concentrate

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games