as in to outwit
to get the better of through cleverness
the prisoners outfoxed the guards by tunneling beneath the prison walls
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Recent Examples of outfox
Here, Shyamalan has similar intentions: His movie would be nothing without Hartnett’s serial killer outfoxing his pursuers, slipping past one security barrier after another, stealing access badges willy-nilly and engineering his daughter’s onstage appearance with her idol.
—
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2024
Since the March Senate primary when Steve Garvey was able to outfox several prominent Democratic competitors and advance to the November election, the Dodger and Padres legend has been very quiet.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2024
With few sharp policy differences, the two candidates are trying to outfox each other in their support for Trump.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2024
The playful, abstract compositions of Ore-Giron, meanwhile, are constantly outfoxing an impulse to settle into symmetry.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for outfox
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2024
Since the March Senate primary when Steve Garvey was able to outfox several prominent Democratic competitors and advance to the November election, the Dodger and Padres legend has been very quiet.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2024
With few sharp policy differences, the two candidates are trying to outfox each other in their support for Trump.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2024
The playful, abstract compositions of Ore-Giron, meanwhile, are constantly outfoxing an impulse to settle into symmetry.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for outfox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outfox
Verb
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Virgil van Dijk got outwitted by the combative Rodrigo Muniz for Fulham’s third.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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Children outwitting their parents in the technology stakes is clearly rife.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This is an American story made by an international cohort — Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larrain is an executive producer under his Fabula production banner — and the film is so much more than just an exploration of this anomalous oddball story and character who managed to outsmart the media.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
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If people are constantly outsmarting the system, what does that say about the system itself?—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Our favorite bike locks for every ride, including new locks designed to thwart angle grinders.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
9 Apr. 2025
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Tanya and Greg were Season 2’s returning characters, and the season ended with Tanya accidentally dying while trying to thwart a murder plot, apparently arranged by Greg’s associates.—
Noel Murray,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But as, as the brilliant evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller notes, our capacities to judge competence have evolved, so too have our capacities to deceive others about it.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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And Ken claims to be a man of faith but uses fake Uber accounts to meet his girlfriend and deceive his family.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In his first defense of the IBF crown, Ennis defeated David Avanesyan when the fight was halted before the start of the sixth round.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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The Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the play-in tournament before losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in a game that would have sent them to the playoffs as the No.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Republicans will need Democratic support to overcome a 60-vote threshold to be able to pass the bill in the Senate.—
John Parkinson,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Prior court decisions and guidance from the Department of Justice have set up hurdles to overcome before the court is forced to overpass a reporter’s privilege to protect sources.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The speech also tackled an issue that has foxed previous governments: reforming the House of Lords.—
Jill Lawless,
The Christian Science Monitor,
17 July 2024
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Raccoon: Raccoon is very similar to fox but rarely comes in any other colors besides that of a typical raccoon which is naturally ombré.—
Liana Satenstein,
Marie Claire,
13 Feb. 2014
Cite this Entry
“Outfox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outfox. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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