What does "wiseacre" mean?
One who feigns knowledge or cleverness; one who is wisecracking; an insolent upstart.
Wiseacre
/ˈwaɪzeɪkə(ɹ)/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One who feigns knowledge or cleverness; one who is wisecracking; an insolent upstart.
- Grammar: wiseacre is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: smart aleck, bon mot, know-it-all, quip.
- Useful contrasts: earnest remark, humility, modesty.
- Usage evidence: That other class of wiseacres who twist prophecy in such a manner as to make it promise the destruction and desolation of the same city, use judgement just as bad, since the city is in a very flourishing condition now, unhappily for them.
How to use "wiseacre"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "wiseacre" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "wiseacre" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "wiseacre" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "wiseacre" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "smart aleck" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One who feigns knowledge or cleverness; one who is wisecracking; an insolent upstart.
"That other class of wiseacres who twist prophecy in such a manner as to make it promise the destruction and desolation of the same city, use judgement just as bad, since the city is in a very flourishing condition now, unhappily for them."
- 2 an upstart who makes conceited, sardonic, insolent comments wordnet
- 3 A learned or wise man. obsolete
"A fool's paradise is better than a wiseacre's purgatory."
Verb
- 1 To act like a wiseacre; to wisecrack.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"That other class of wiseacres who twist prophecy in such a manner as to make it promise the destruction and desolation of the same city, use judgement just as bad, since the city is in a very flourishing condition now, unhappily for them."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "wiseacre"?
Common synonyms include: smart aleck, bon mot, know-it-all, quip, smart ass, smarty.
How do you use "wiseacre" in a sentence?
That other class of wiseacres who twist prophecy in such a manner as to make it promise the destruction and desolation of the same city, use judgement just as bad, since the city is in a very flourishing condition now, unhappily for them.
How do you pronounce "wiseacre"?
Pronounced /ˈwaɪzeɪkə(ɹ)/.
Etymology
From Middle Dutch wijssegger (“soothsayer”), from Old High German wīzzago, wīzago (“wise man, prophet, soothsayer”), from Proto-West Germanic *wītagō (“wise one; prophet”). Cognate with Old English wītga (“wise man, prophet”). See also German Weissager (“soothsayer, seer”).