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
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Recent Examples of outsmart
What follows is a tense series of events as Ethan tries (and often fails) to outsmart the Traveler and prevent a terrible tragedy, all without getting his girlfriend and unborn baby killed.
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Erik Kain, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
So, enjoy the festivities, cherish the moments with loved ones, and keep these tips in mind to outsmart the scammers.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 16 Dec. 2024
Sunday outsmarted Adam and Hannah with a ruse at Tribal Council.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
On fourth-and-1 at UCLA’s 17-yard line, quarterback Frank Tamburello outsmarted a Bruins defense expecting a sneak by pitching the ball to halfback Ed Vereb, who raced around the right end to score the game’s only touchdown on the opening series of the second half.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 9 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for outsmart 
Erik Kain, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
So, enjoy the festivities, cherish the moments with loved ones, and keep these tips in mind to outsmart the scammers.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 16 Dec. 2024
Sunday outsmarted Adam and Hannah with a ruse at Tribal Council.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
On fourth-and-1 at UCLA’s 17-yard line, quarterback Frank Tamburello outsmarted a Bruins defense expecting a sneak by pitching the ball to halfback Ed Vereb, who raced around the right end to score the game’s only touchdown on the opening series of the second half.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 9 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for outsmart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outsmart
Verb
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The Netflix series follows three families who will do just about anything to outbid — or outwit — the competition when their dream home finally goes on the market.Brande Victorian, Essence, 23 Dec. 2024
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Orgeron coaches the game shirtless and outwits Kalen DeBoer, who ditched his T-shirt for a hoodie on a chilly night in Tuscaloosa.Blake Toppmeyer, The Tennessean, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the attack had been thwarted.Natasha Frost, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
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No sitting president pressuring a vice president to thwart the process.Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2025
Verb
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And unless my eyes deceive me, the shine is turned up to 11 thanks to shimmer in her middle part.Marci Robin, Allure, 8 Jan. 2025
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These include data poisoning, where training datasets are manipulated to compromise models, and adversarial attacks, which involve subtle input changes to deceive AI systems.Piyush Ranjan, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Cleveland Browns to secure the AFC North title.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025
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The once and future president defeated a movement conservative, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), to win the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.W. James Antle III, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Highest Payout Casino Games Some games give you better chances of overcoming the house edge than others.Christopher Gerlacher, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
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Sabalenka had to battle past Mirra Andreeva in the semis in a tougher match than the 6-3, 6-2 scoreline suggests, before overcoming a wobbly first set to beat qualifier Polina Kudermetova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the final.Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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Don’t be fooled by its small appearance, though — this beauty can hold up to a week’s worth of clothes.Jasmine Grant, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2024
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The passenger initially gave deputies a fake name and a 2012 birth date, but they were not fooled by this alibi as the woman appeared older, according to the Sheriff’s Office.Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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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
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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 18 Jan. 2025.
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