as in to outwit
to get the better of through cleverness
the company's growth is due in large part to its marketing division's ability to outthink the competition
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Recent Examples of outthink
Some of the game’s biggest stars have already voiced frustration over trying to outthink the robots.
—
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Digital computers may eventually outthink us, but that will remain all action without experience.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
As loyalties blur and tensions erupt, survival depends on who can outthink – and outgun – everyone else.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
The real edge is in responsiveness − the ability to outthink, outproduce and outmaneuver its competitor.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2025
Altman, always the AI optimist, has previously touted AI’s potential to someday outthink humans, but the technology’s past three years of progress since OpenAI kicked off the AI arms race with ChatGPT’s release have shown him this moment could come sooner rather than later.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2025
Geoff Hinton, one of the most influential voices in artificial intelligence, warned that humanity is running out of time to prepare for machines that outthink us.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
And if this isn’t an isolated incident, then this presents a huge problem for the remnants of humanity, most of whom have survived through a mixture of luck and simply being able to outthink these single-minded creatures.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2025
Perhaps the shape rotators are convinced that computers can outthink us because their own minds are so impoverished.
—Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 26 June 2024
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Digital computers may eventually outthink us, but that will remain all action without experience.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
As loyalties blur and tensions erupt, survival depends on who can outthink – and outgun – everyone else.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
The real edge is in responsiveness − the ability to outthink, outproduce and outmaneuver its competitor.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2025
Altman, always the AI optimist, has previously touted AI’s potential to someday outthink humans, but the technology’s past three years of progress since OpenAI kicked off the AI arms race with ChatGPT’s release have shown him this moment could come sooner rather than later.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2025
Geoff Hinton, one of the most influential voices in artificial intelligence, warned that humanity is running out of time to prepare for machines that outthink us.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
And if this isn’t an isolated incident, then this presents a huge problem for the remnants of humanity, most of whom have survived through a mixture of luck and simply being able to outthink these single-minded creatures.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2025
Perhaps the shape rotators are convinced that computers can outthink us because their own minds are so impoverished.
—Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 26 June 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outthink
Verb
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Twenty-six years ago, students treated a visit by then-President Bill Clinton as a challenge, and outwitted the Secret Service by secretly rigging a banner to unfurl at an inopportune moment.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
26 Apr. 2026
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Bob Markle was good at outwitting violators.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Instead of drafting franchise cornerstones in JaMarr Chase or Penei Sewell, ex-GM Chris Grier outsmarted himself.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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Earth Day is the one day a year when picking up litter feels less like a chore and more like joining a very low-budget superhero league — no cape required, just a decent pair of gloves and a willingness to outsmart a rogue plastic bag.—
Vytas Reid,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Iran has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to exploit the rhythms of American politics — election cycles, media pressures, bureaucratic fragmentation — to delay, confuse, and outmaneuver counterparts.—
Gaurav Srivastava,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Apr. 2026
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Krüger trained Filou to test out a working theory that seals use their whiskers to outmaneuver fish trying to escape them.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This intent to deceive constituents has been obvious since February.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Rashid deceived Padikkal with a perfect googly while Kohli dragged jason Holder’s slower ball onto his stumps.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Frey unleashed his five-pitch arsenal, thwarting the Spartans most of the way.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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Russia’s defense ministry said its paramilitary forces helped thwart a coup.—
Preeti Jha,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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How Disney’s founder, namesake, and first CEO overcame the crisis of his day may give D’Amaro a blueprint for his.—
Roland Betancourt,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
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But even more inspiring was their determination to overcome enormous losses and difficulties to try to make new lives for themselves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Earlier this month, Michigan defeated UConn in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
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In large part because the only feeling more satisfying than defeating your enemies is that of defeating your friends.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Liv Morgan begged for a tag, but she was outfoxed by a blind tag from Rhea Ripley.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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But even foxes can outfox themselves by their own designs.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outthink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outthink. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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