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.

“It’s okay to be a know-it-all if you don’t think everyone else is a know-it-nothing.”

From Literature

Don’t let the know-it-alls fool you: Nobody saw this showdown coming in August.

From The Wall Street Journal

I offered that information with an apology, since nobody wants to come off as a know-it-all; however, matching shows with the right streaming service is part of a TV critic’s job these days.

From Salon

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

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