as in mind
the normal or healthy condition of the mental abilities
scared out of her wits
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Recent Examples of wits
Hundreds of people who are very fast on their feet and quick with their wits will be in Hartford March 26-29 for the Hartford Improv Festival.
—
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
At the end of each show, the judges pick two characters to face off in a battle of wits.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Constantly at each other’s throats, the pair matches wits with demeaning quips and physical comedy greatness.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2026
The poor thing must’ve been scared out of its wits.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
This was particularly true of opponents with enough front-court skills to win some of the cat-and-mouse points Alcaraz loves, while gaining confidence from the thrill of such a battle of wits and end-range skills.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
His father was a wheeler-dealer who lived by quick wits and the sweat of his brow, dabbling in bootlegged sake, swine farming, loan sharking, and later pachinko parlors—Japan’s ubiquitous low-stakes gambling game of clattering steel ball bearings.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Don’t take anything for granted and keep your wits about you.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
Most of the film follows Dylan and his entourage (including Joan Baez) on a tour of England, trading wits with journalists and getting hammered at a notorious hotel party that involves someone (who?
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
At the end of each show, the judges pick two characters to face off in a battle of wits.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Constantly at each other’s throats, the pair matches wits with demeaning quips and physical comedy greatness.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2026
The poor thing must’ve been scared out of its wits.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
This was particularly true of opponents with enough front-court skills to win some of the cat-and-mouse points Alcaraz loves, while gaining confidence from the thrill of such a battle of wits and end-range skills.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
His father was a wheeler-dealer who lived by quick wits and the sweat of his brow, dabbling in bootlegged sake, swine farming, loan sharking, and later pachinko parlors—Japan’s ubiquitous low-stakes gambling game of clattering steel ball bearings.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Don’t take anything for granted and keep your wits about you.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
Most of the film follows Dylan and his entourage (including Joan Baez) on a tour of England, trading wits with journalists and getting hammered at a notorious hotel party that involves someone (who?
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wits
Noun
-
Tax season, savings strategies, and investment planning are all pulling at your attention, and your analytical mind is more than capable of working through the complexity.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Trust in the power of the mind.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On its own, that fact might drive those who loved Nelson to the edge of sanity.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Enter the 2026 Chevrolet Trax, a compact crossover that bends the needle toward sanity and affordability.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wits. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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