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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun wit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of wit are humor, irony, repartee, sarcasm, and satire. While all these words 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

When would humor be a good substitute for wit?

The words humor and wit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When could irony be used to replace wit?

The meanings of irony and wit largely overlap; however, 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

In what contexts can repartee take the place of wit?

In some situations, the words repartee and wit are roughly equivalent. However, repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily.

a dinner guest noted for repartee

Where would sarcasm be a reasonable alternative to wit?

The synonyms sarcasm and wit are sometimes interchangeable, but sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound.

given to heartless sarcasm

When can satire be used instead of wit?

The words satire and wit can be used in similar contexts, but 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

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 wit Known for his bold use of color, playful bows, and signature heart motifs, Kelly’s work mixed joy and wit with sharp social commentary. Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025 Of course, Arness finally out wits and kills him, but meanwhile there’s lots of good western style entertainment. Hal Landers, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025 Chen described Kate Spade as an interesting work in progress and gave a thumbs up to CEO and brand president Eva Erdmann’s plans to keep the brand’s wit. Evan Clark, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025 There’s a twisted wit to the setup here, as Kolstad takes real trends in American life — economic stagnation, rising tribalism, gun fetishism — and follows them to their corrupt, violent end points. Katie Rife, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wit
Noun
  • Yet the Hollywood ceremony on CBS will be hosted by a comedian, Nate Bargatze, and many of the most-talked about shows and nominees have attracted viewers with humor and humanity.
    Jair Hilburn, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • What drove Gillis to Notre Dame fandom — and what made the Irish embrace the comedian?
    The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Leadership often comes down to having the wisdom to make the most difficult business choices.
    Dr. Jonathan Reichental, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • First, some perspective courtesy of the wisdom and wit of former Chiefs coach Marv Levy.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • With these factors all in mind, clips from the Vegas opening are obviously being heavily scrutinized in Motley Crue fan forums.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Put yourself into unknown territory and open up your mind, spirit and vision.
    Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Managing and interpreting the flood of data would be impossible without machine intelligence.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Counterterrorism strategies must continue to adapt to meet this evolving battleground, leveraging not only military and intelligence tools but also public-private partnerships with tech platforms, AI monitoring, and global diplomacy.
    Richard Frankel, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Kahani’s work is of a piece with that of bigger-name compatriots like Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof in its protest against the Iranian government, though his droll-to-devastating approach is very much his own.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Brian Doyle-Murray, the older brother of Bill, stars in Caddyshack as the droll Lou Loomis, manager of the caddies.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 25 July 2025
Noun
  • But those with long memories are tempering enthusiasm with prudence, remembering how the dot-com bubble led to unsustainable valuations and a painful crash.
    Tiz Gambacorta, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • This was a chance for Biden to take the high road, to toe the fiscal line and display financial prudence.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • But that leadership and seriousness are balanced within a personality that’s critical to maintaining his team’s sanity as criticism rains.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Analyze whether being with him is worth the risk for your sanity — and your wallet.
    Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Such a move would represent a dramatic shift aimed at combating short-term thinking inside C-Suites obsessed with pleasing investors but would also mean far less timely insights into the business world and the real economy.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The company applies a sociological attention to the gestures and dilemmas of people’s daily routines; once harvested, these insights are quickly incorporated into product designs.
    Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wit. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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