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
Charlie's Angels centered on three private investigators who, under orders from their enigmatic but never visible boss, Charlie Townsend, solved cases together using their wits and style.
—
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Along the way, the two of them verbally spar and match wits on a variety of topics.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The intergenerational duo has kept fans hooked with their surefire wits and complicated relationship that both hurts and heals.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
The first debate between presidential candidates occurred on May 17, 1948, when Republican contenders Thomas Dewey and Harold Stassen matched wits.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The level of stress the game conjures rivals that of the new Resident Evil installment, in which a young woman armed with only her wits and a pistol faces down ravenous monsters.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
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
Constantly at each other’s throats, the pair matches wits with demeaning quips and physical comedy greatness.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 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
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Along the way, the two of them verbally spar and match wits on a variety of topics.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The intergenerational duo has kept fans hooked with their surefire wits and complicated relationship that both hurts and heals.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
The first debate between presidential candidates occurred on May 17, 1948, when Republican contenders Thomas Dewey and Harold Stassen matched wits.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
The level of stress the game conjures rivals that of the new Resident Evil installment, in which a young woman armed with only her wits and a pistol faces down ravenous monsters.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
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
Constantly at each other’s throats, the pair matches wits with demeaning quips and physical comedy greatness.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wits
Noun
-
This white chocolate bar is creamy and ultra-sweet, and the great minds at TJ’s were smart to distract from the one-note flavor with crunchy little cookie crumbles.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
-
By evening, disruptive Uranus enters your 9th House of Higher Learning and Beliefs, opening your mind to new perspectives, ideas, and possibilities.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In Joseph Heller’s novel, claiming to be crazy is taken as evidence of sanity.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The linchpin holding together Wilson Fisk’s sanity is dead.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wits.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wits. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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