witty

[ wit-ee ]

adjective

, wit·ti·er, wit·ti·est.

1. possessing wit in speech or writing; amusingly clever in perception and expression:

   a witty writer.

   Synonyms: brilliant, original, funny, droll

   Antonyms: stupid, dull

2. characterized by wit:

   a witty remark.

   Synonyms: brilliant, original, funny, droll

   Antonyms: stupid, dull

3. British Dialect. intelligent; clever

witty

/ ˈwɪtɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by clever humour or wit
2. archaic.
   intelligent or sensible

Derived Forms

• ˈwittily, adverb
• ˈwittiness, noun

Other Words From

• wit·ti·ly adverb
• wit·ti·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of witty¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English wittig originally, “wise”; wit ¹, -y ¹

Synonym Study

See humorous ¹.

Example Sentences

Which will give us a completely different picture of Colonel Parker than most people have, because the letters are so eloquent, so witty, also so smart and so to-the-point that they’re just fascinating.

From Washington Post

Their art was courageous, clever, witty, and beautiful, but also capable of inspiring bold change.

From Fortune

These texts are a treat, mingling hard facts with witty and intriguing tidbits about the science behind an item and its context.

From Nautilus

Sometimes, as Mathews remembers, she was witty and joyfully impulsive, but she couldn’t raise her sons with anything except a hand-to-mouth existence and constant household moves.

From Washington Blade

On “Frasier,” the pompous, but lovable, witty, opera-aficionado, twice-divorced psychiatrist Frasier Crane has moved to Seattle.

From Washington Blade

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

At lunch he was the greatest possible fun, bubbling over with jokes and witty sallies.

From Project Gutenberg

She cultivated a witty habit of speech, the society of cabinet ministers, and her chef was a celebrity.

From Project Gutenberg

"When I wants a maid, I'll please mysel," a declaration which all present seemed to consider very witty.

From Project Gutenberg

The damsel, uninterrupted in her own loquacity, had not discovered that this witty gentleman was——dumb!

From Project Gutenberg

A witty knave bargained with a seller of lace in London for as much as would reach from one of his ears to the other.

From Project Gutenberg