outsmart

American  

[out-smahrt] / ˌaʊtˈsmɑrt /

verb (used with object)

1. to get the better of (someone); outwit.

---

idioms

1. 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

1. informal (tr) to get the better of; outwit

---

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.

Example Sentences

"Much depends on the military command but Mykhailo has a vision of how to outsmart the system."

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Darnold is long overdue for another stinker, and it will happen here against a Mike Vrabel-coached defense that will simply outsmart him and defensive-minded Seahawks’ coach Mike Macdonald.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

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

And yet, in an era where MLB organizations are increasingly run by Ivy League whiz kids and their armies of data wonks, Dombrowski continues to outsmart the rest.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025

“Remember, he’s fighting us. He’s on his guard. The only way we can catch him is to outsmart him—and, within his limitations, he can think much more quickly than a human being.”

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

Related Words

• baffle
• bamboozle
• circumvent
• deceive
• outdo
• outfox
• outmaneuver