outsmart

American  

[out-smahrt] / ˌaʊtˈsmɑrt /

verb (used with object)

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

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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

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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.

Example Sentences

Tim Lumb, from the trade body Outsmart, points out that adverts "contribute a significant amount of money every year to the transport authorities and local councils through rent and business rates".

From BBC • Sep. 7, 2022

Outsmart and then outfox—it sounded exactly like the Patriot way.

From The New Yorker • Jan. 21, 2015

How to Outsmart It Stick to your game plan.

From Forbes • Oct. 22, 2014

How to Outsmart It As with your retirement account, you’re likely investing for the long run, so it makes sense to build your portfolio with a longer timeframe in mind.

From Forbes • Oct. 22, 2014

How to Outsmart It The thinking behind sunk-cost fallacy is similar to another cognitive bias called loss aversion that you often find in the lexicon of the psychology of investing.

From Forbes • Oct. 22, 2014

Related Words

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