as in to outwit
to get the better of through cleverness
an inexpensive security system that would likely be outsmarted by anyone with a serious interest in circumventing it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of outsmart
Each episode features a different theme, with the experts trying to outsmart the crowd in a battle of brains.
—
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Oct. 2024
The approach should work when the show’s producers scramble to figure out how this cornpone contestant out Lebanon, Ohio, has outsmarted them.
—Stephen Saito, Variety, 6 Sep. 2024
So, Enola decides to break the mold and outsmart her brothers by finding her mother herself.
—Madeline Cisneros, EW.com, 8 Aug. 2024
President Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, who after fleeing Washington, would outsmart his pursuers throughout Southern Maryland until being shot in a Virginia tobacco barn.
—Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 23 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for outsmart 
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Oct. 2024
The approach should work when the show’s producers scramble to figure out how this cornpone contestant out Lebanon, Ohio, has outsmarted them.
—Stephen Saito, Variety, 6 Sep. 2024
So, Enola decides to break the mold and outsmart her brothers by finding her mother herself.
—Madeline Cisneros, EW.com, 8 Aug. 2024
President Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, who after fleeing Washington, would outsmart his pursuers throughout Southern Maryland until being shot in a Virginia tobacco barn.
—Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 23 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for outsmart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outsmart
Verb
-
Forced back into combat, Billie Jean sets traps and executes precise strikes to outwit the attackers.Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
-
For a concrete example of how AI has intensified the cat-and-mouse game between human and artificial BS, and the capacity of both to outwit and fool each other, consider recruitment.Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
During Trump’s first term, California had some success in thwarting his plans and policies.Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
-
Invest in community colleges, where a gigantic proportion of American students are but where a lack of resources often thwarts their ambitions.Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Have both deceived themselves about their ambitions, their desires, their essential natures?Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
-
Decisions made in good faith leave you vulnerable to being deceived as the moon clashes with Neptune.USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The aftermath of Israel’s 1982 invasion illustrates another stark fact: permanently weakening or even defeating an organization can give rise to new ones.Sarah E. Parkinson, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2024
-
And four hearts doubled could and should have been defeated.Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
To overcome this, build self-awareness and emotional intelligence internally first.Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
-
However, the article notes this training will likely be easier for happy chasers because dogs who are angry or fearful bee-chasers have stronger emotions to overcome.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Situated in one of the game's smallest media markets, the Padres under General Manager A.J. Preller have spent lavishly and made a series of splashy acquisitions, but keep getting outfoxed by their upstate rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers.David Faris, theweek, 5 Sep. 2024
-
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
Verb
-
Your partner is either fooling himself or attempting to fool you.R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
-
Fischer, who played the paper company's receptionist Pam (until she was promoted), explained that creator Greg Daniels even filmed a fake version of the episode to fool them.Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
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
-
In a blog post, Google CEO Sundar Pichai predicted the technology underlying Gemini Advanced will be able to outthink even the smartest people when tackling many complex topics.Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near outsmart
Cite this Entry
“Outsmart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outsmart. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share