wiseacre

[ wahyz-ey-ker ]
See synonyms for wiseacre on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a person who possesses or affects to possess great wisdom.

Origin of wiseacre

1
1585–95; <Middle Dutch wijssager prophet, translation of Middle High German wīssage,late Old High German wīssago, by popular etymology equivalent to wīs wise + sago sayer, from earlier wīzzago wise person; cognate with Old English wītega, akin to wit2

Words Nearby wiseacre

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use wiseacre in a sentence

  • Yes, as some wiseacre will point out in the comments, this is the hometown of the Chiefs.

  • An order had been issued by the wiseacre in command of the Army of the Potomac that all guerrillas taken should be put to death.

    Duffels | Edward Eggleston
  • The learned ignorance of the wiseacre always compels him to laugh at the man with an idea that is new.

  • One wiseacre in command in London declared his belief that the Tower was no longer “tenable.”

    Andrew Marvell | Augustine Birrell
  • He had choice among the pick of women: the daughter of the Old Buccaneer was preferred by the wiseacre Coelebs.

  • And he described himself as stronger than ever, and poured scorn on the medical wiseacre who had tried to refuse him.

    Ghetto Comedies | Israel Zangwill

British Dictionary definitions for wiseacre

wiseacre

/ (ˈwaɪzˌeɪkə) /


noun
  1. a person who wishes to seem wise

  2. a wise person: often used facetiously or contemptuously

Origin of wiseacre

1
C16: from Middle Dutch wijsseggher soothsayer; related to Old High German wīssaga, German Weissager. See wise 1, say

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