Synonyms for outwit
Most common
Definitions
- v. 1
To get the better of; to outsmart, to beat in a competition of wits.
Forms
- Past participle
- outwitted
e.g. outwitted → outsmarted, circumvented, defeated, deceived…
Example sentences
- defeat Don't do that, Tom! That would defeat the purpose!
- deceive I assure you that I didn't intend to deceive you.
- circumvent You'll have to find a trick to circumvent that issue.
- outsmart Tom didn't expect that Mary would outsmart him.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| outwit | rising | |
| defeat | steady | |
| deceive | steady | |
| circumvent | rising | |
| outsmart | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- beat1, gull1, dupe1
- 5 letters
- cozen
- 6 letters
- defeat2, baffle2, gammon2, delude2, diddle2, outfox2, chouse
- 7 letters
- deceive2, defraud2, swindle2, trounce1, beguile2
- 8 letters
- outsmart2
- 9 letters
- overreach3, victimize3, bamboozle, victimise
- 10 letters
- circumvent3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (defeat2 = 2 syllables).