Synonyms

outsmart

American

[out-smahrt] / ˌaʊtˈsmɑrt /

verb (used with object)

to get the better of (someone); outwit.

idioms

outsmart oneself, to defeat oneself unintentionally by overly elaborate intrigue, scheming, or the like.

This time he may have outsmarted himself.

outsmart British

/ ˌaʊtˈsmɑːt /

verb

informal (tr) to get the better of; outwit

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Etymology

Origin of outsmart

1925–30; out- + smart (adj.)

Explanation

When you outsmart someone, you use your cleverness or intelligence to defeat them in some way. The roadrunner will always outsmart the coyote, at least according to Saturday morning cartoons. When two countries are negotiating with each other, they're often each trying to outsmart the other — to maneuver in a way that gives them the better deal. A game of chess is all about which player can strategize better, or who can outsmart their opponent. And classic TV detectives use their wit to outsmart the bad guys by the end of each episode.

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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.

And that’s not because I think I can outsmart the market or game the system, but because I’d like to make smarter decisions about my own life.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

In the group Slack, Claudius became an oddly real presence, a co-worker people collaborated with in small groups, teased and collectively tried to outsmart.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

It took 13-year-old Isobel less than five minutes to outsmart Australia's "world-leading" social media ban for children.

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2025

"You can be sure that other teams will be analysing us so we need to keep improving our tactics and playing style so that we can outsmart them."

From Barron's • Nov. 19, 2025

The web says Arden Jones had “speed, agility, intelligence to outsmart most opponents.”

From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

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