smart-alecky

adjective

Definition of smart-aleckynext
1
as in cute
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred you wouldn't be so smart-alecky if you were the one having the surgery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings smart-alecky comments from a coworker about her new clothes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smart-alecky
  1. cute
  2. sarcastic
  3. playful
  4. satiric
  5. acidic
Adjective
  • The kids were very cute & the crates were very broken.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
  • In the coach’s fourth season, the Dolphins need to get less cute and tougher on the ground.
    Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • But Baldoni alleges that the Times ignored additional context in the same text exchange that indicates Nathan and Abel were joking and being sarcastic.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Frustrated that people do not believe his consistent response to the same question, his tone grew sarcastic.
    Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
Definition of sarcastic
Adjective
  • Actor Dwayne Johnson brought his playful energy to the red carpet in a purple suit jacket with a matching dress shirt underneath and black trousers.
    Lori A Bashian Fox News, Fox News, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Despite the playful teasing, Gomez credited the men for her presence at the evening’s awards ceremony.
    Sara Netzley, EW.com, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of playful
Adjective
  • The show isn't satiric so much as amused by the absurd lengths to which the Kaylas of our society will go in pursuit of self-definition.
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Mann at his most satiric has Settembrini contributing an essay to a multivolume project whose purpose is to end suffering.
    George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of satiric
Adjective
  • Researchers suggest that this type of water can help neutralize the adverse effects of acidic diets and prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 2 Jan. 2025
  • How To Clean Your Microwave Using Lemon The acidic nature of lemon juice helps break down dirt and grime while also offering a fresh scent, so using a lemon to clean a microwave is an easy choice.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2024
Definition of acidic
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near smart-alecky

smart alecks

smart-alecky

smart-ass

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Smart-alecky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smart-alecky. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

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