witty

[wit-ee]

See more synonyms for witty on Thesaurus.com

adjective, wit·ti·er, wit·ti·est.

possessing wit in speech or writing; amusingly clever in perception and expression: a witty writer.
characterized by wit: a witty remark.
British Dialect. intelligent; clever.

Origin of witty

before 900; Middle English; Old English wittig orig., wise. See wit¹, -y¹

Related formswit·ti·ly, adverbwit·ti·ness, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for witty on Thesaurus.com

1, 2. droll, funny, original, sparkling, brilliant. See humorous¹.

Antonyms

1, 2. dull, stupid.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for witty

Contemporary Examples

Though conversational and often witty, his meandering phrases become increasingly unpredictable as they develop.
The Lost Novel of Nobel-Winner José Saramago
Charles Shafaieh
January 5, 2015
They are variously loud, meditative, dramatic, witty, sexy, searing, and elegiac.
The Queer Genius of Film Director Derek Jarman
Tim Teeman
November 1, 2014
The 16-song pop treasure chest comes to a thrilling close with “New Romantics,” a remix-ready stomper crammed with witty lyrics.
Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’: Country’s Prodigal Daughter Creates the Best Pop Album of the Year
Marlow Stern
October 25, 2014
But instead of a witty pop song, we have yet more woe-is-me-feel-my-pain from an overpaid, over-cosseted celebrity.
Why We Should Hate 'Haters Gonna Hate'
Tim Teeman
August 25, 2014
But Poehler is, and has been throughout the run of her show, just as good: just as silly, just as madcap, just as witty.
What's TV's Funniest Show? Our Emmy Awards Comedy Predictions
Kevin Fallon
August 21, 2014

Historical Examples

All men—Spenser as well as Jonson—found him gentle and witty, gay and generous.
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris
Ordinary London slang is full of witty things said by nobody in particular.
Alarms and Discursions
G. K. Chesterton
He was young, well-spoken, witty, and skilled in all martial and manly exercises.
Micah Clarke
Arthur Conan Doyle
I was in the mood to say pretty things, and I had never felt so witty.
The Middle Class Gentleman
Moliere
The devil having him at advantage, began to be witty with him.
Bunyan
James Anthony Froude

British Dictionary definitions for witty

witty

adjective -tier or -tiest

characterized by clever humour or wit
archaic, or dialect intelligent or sensible

Derived Formswittily, adverbwittiness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for witty

adj.

Old English wittig "clever, wise;" see wit (n.) "intellect" + -y (2). Meaning "possessing sparkling wit" is recorded from 1580s.

witty

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}witty

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples from the Web for witty

Contemporary Examples

Though conversational and often witty, his meandering phrases become increasingly unpredictable as they develop.

They are variously loud, meditative, dramatic, witty, sexy, searing, and elegiac.

The 16-song pop treasure chest comes to a thrilling close with “New Romantics,” a remix-ready stomper crammed with witty lyrics.

But instead of a witty pop song, we have yet more woe-is-me-feel-my-pain from an overpaid, over-cosseted celebrity.

But Poehler is, and has been throughout the run of her show, just as good: just as silly, just as madcap, just as witty.

Historical Examples

All men—Spenser as well as Jonson—found him gentle and witty, gay and generous.

Ordinary London slang is full of witty things said by nobody in particular.

He was young, well-spoken, witty, and skilled in all martial and manly exercises.

I was in the mood to say pretty things, and I had never felt so witty.

The devil having him at advantage, began to be witty with him.

witty

Word Origin and History for witty

adj.

Origin of witty