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Meaning & use

witty

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈwɪti/
US/ˈwɪti/

Meaning

  1. adjectivecomparableapproving

    Able to say or write things that are both clever and funny, often in a quick or unexpected way.

    Grammar: Describes a person or what they say or write: a witty speaker, a witty reply.

    Patterns

    • witty about something

    The host was witty and kept the whole dinner party laughing.

    Her witty reply to the reporter made headlines the next day.

    He wrote a witty column about commuting by bus.

Word forms

comparativewittier
superlativewittiest

Common combinations

a witty remark
He made a witty remark that broke the tension.
witty banter
The two hosts are famous for their witty banter.
a witty reply
She had a witty reply for every question.
witty and charming
The author is both witty and charming in person.
a witty one-liner
A witty one-liner ended the speech on a high note.
a witty script
The film has a witty script full of clever wordplay.

Synonyms and how they differ

clever
Clever refers to intelligence in general and need not be funny, while witty always involves amusing wordplay or ideas.
humorous
Humorous means funny in any way, even in a silly way, whereas witty needs sharp, quick thinking.
amusing
Amusing says only that something entertains, and it can describe a situation, while witty usually describes language.
quick-witted
Quick-witted stresses speed of thinking and does not need humor, while witty always involves something funny.

Opposites

dullhumorless

Word family

wit noun
the ability to say clever and funny things
wittily adverb
in a clever and amusing way
wittiness noun
the quality of being witty
witticism noun
a clever, funny remark

Commonly confused: witty or funny?

witty vs funny

Funny can mean anything that makes people laugh, including slapstick or silly faces. Witty is narrower and needs cleverness with words or ideas.

Practice

Her ___ reply made the whole room laugh and also showed how quickly she could think.

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