Synonyms

know-it-all

American

[noh-it-awl] / ˈnoʊ ɪtˌɔl /

noun

a person who acts as though they know everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.

adjective

of or characteristic of a person who acts as though they know everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.

know it all Idioms

see know all the answers.

Etymology

Origin of know-it-all

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Soft know-it-alls from the city and phonies of any stripe receive rough treatment in his shows, such as the llama farmer from California who gets thrown under a Montana cattle guard in “Yellowstone.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The idea was to put to rest any worry that she might parade in like a know-it-all.

From The Wall Street Journal

I have been a know-it-all Dodger fan since the late 1950s and after last season I thought, and hoped, Clayton Kershaw would retire.

From Los Angeles Times

He could come off as a know-it-all, and he tended to ramble when speaking.

From Salon

Of course, being a kid is full of trial and error, especially when you’re a know-it-all.

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023