outfox

American  

[out-foks] / ˌaʊtˈfɒks /

verb (used with object)

1. to outwit; outsmart; outmaneuver.

   Politics is often the art of knowing how to outfox the opposition.

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outfox British  

/ ˌaʊtˈfɒks /

verb

1. (tr) to surpass in guile or cunning

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Etymology

Origin of outfox

First recorded in 1960–65; out- + fox

Example Sentences

Following a $1-billion-grossing, Oscar-winning smash could have left writer and director Jared Bush and director Byron Howard feeling like rabbits in the headlights, but they seem to have outfoxed the challenge.

From Los Angeles Times

National-security hawks argued they had to be withheld to stifle China’s development of military weaponry and, perhaps one day, advanced AI systems that outfox humans.

From The Wall Street Journal

Look what he accomplished; look how he outfoxed and defeated every opponent.

From Salon

There is a way that these repetitive movements can ward off calamities, outfox deterioration, at least to a point.

From The Wall Street Journal

So was my father’s, a sly teacher of life lessons to the end, who outfoxed me one final time.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• outdo
• outwit