witticism

[ wit-uh-siz-uhm ]

/ ˈwɪt əˌsɪz əm /

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See synonyms for witticism on Thesaurus.com

noun

a witty remark or sentence.

OTHER WORDS FOR witticism

joke, jest, quip, sally, wisecrack.

See synonyms for witticism on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of witticism

1645–55; derivative of witty, modeled on criticism

Words nearby witticism

Wittenberg, witter, Wittgenstein, Wittgensteinian, Wittgenstein, Ludwig, witticism, wittiness, witting, wittol, witty, Witwatersrand

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use witticism in a sentence

He was known and loved for his short witticisms and hoped to be remembered for his sense of humor and for being a cybernaut news-bringer and an encourager of others.
Activist, writer John Stephen Hunt dies at 85|Staff reports|March 30, 2021|Washington Blade
He was also the victim of a particularly odious witticism while living here.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries|Charles G. Harper
Enchanted at what he thought a witticism, he cut short further dry talk.
Balsamo, The Magician|Alexander Dumas
The use of the prescribed address "ma'mselle" was evidently regarded as a witticism, for shouts of laughter filled the place.
The False Chevalier|William Douw Lighthall

Even every witty tale and mere witticism teaches something useful.
The History of Yiddish Literature in the Nineteenth Century|Leo Wiener
It was a more or less pointless witticism, but it had a humorous quotable flavor, and it made Evans mad.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete|Albert Bigelow Paine

British Dictionary definitions for witticism

witticism

/ (ˈwɪtɪˌsɪzəm) /

noun

a clever or witty remark

Word Origin for witticism

C17: from witty; coined by Dryden (1677) by analogy with criticism

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

witticism

OTHER WORDS FOR witticism

Origin of witticism

Words nearby witticism

Words related to witticism

How to use witticism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for witticism

Word Origin for witticism