as in to outsmart
to get the better of through cleverness
a plan to outwit their opponents at their own game
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of outwit
Millions watched this new kind of reality TV competition show in the summer of 2000 to see players try to outwit, outplay and outlast each other while at the same time trying to survive.
—
Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Ultimately, the team landed on 24 all-stars who will outwit, outplay and outlast each other for the $1 million prize and bragging rights that come with winning the show’s most competitive season to date.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
Folktales are filled with people fighting to survive in forests, steppes, and deserts, and evading and outwitting the wild beasts that dwell within them.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
The characters here, though, are nowhere near so smart as those conniving pagans and can only dream of outwitting the sophisticated folk from the mainland, coming there with their talk of cake, and comfy chairs, and their lies.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outwit
Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Ultimately, the team landed on 24 all-stars who will outwit, outplay and outlast each other for the $1 million prize and bragging rights that come with winning the show’s most competitive season to date.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
Folktales are filled with people fighting to survive in forests, steppes, and deserts, and evading and outwitting the wild beasts that dwell within them.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
The characters here, though, are nowhere near so smart as those conniving pagans and can only dream of outwitting the sophisticated folk from the mainland, coming there with their talk of cake, and comfy chairs, and their lies.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outwit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outwit
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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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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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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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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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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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
Verb
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Lauren Weisberger published the novel in 2003 after serving as Anna Wintour's personal assistant at Vogue for a year, and the roman à clef fooled no one—least of all anyone who'd ever ridden the elevator at 4 Times Square and emerged spiritually altered.—
Paul Jebara,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
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The Angels weren’t fooled by his cutter and slurve.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outwit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outwit. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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