witty

American  

[wit-ee] / ˈwɪt i /

adjective

wittier, wittiest

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 British  

/ ˈwɪtɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by clever humour or wit

2. archaic intelligent or sensible

---

Related Words

See humorous ¹.

Other Word Forms

• wittily adverb
• wittiness noun

Etymology

Origin of witty

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

Example Sentences

References to poetry loom large in Mr. Darnielle’s “This Year,” which, as the title suggests, offers a song a day for an entire year followed by an insightful, often witty account of its origin.

From The Wall Street Journal

The crowds can be hostile and the Barmy Army are pretty good when it comes to sledging with witty songs.

From BBC

His anecdotes would become the basis for Crystal’s character, Harry, while Ryan’s witty foil, Sally, was the embodiment of Ephron’s sharp and observant eye.

From Salon

Umurzokov’s friends described him as a witty and kind student with dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon.

From The Wall Street Journal

But it is his beautiful writing that really surprised me, full of witty, unpretentious chapters about his life of Hollywood glamour.

From The Wall Street Journal