Word forms: comparative wittier, superlative wittiest
adjective
Someone or something that is witty is amusing in a clever way.
His plays were very good, very witty.
He is a very witty speaker.
Synonyms: humorous, original, brilliant, funny More Synonyms of witty
wittilygraded adverb [usually ADVERB with verb, also ADVERB adjective]
The play deals wittily and intelligently with the pain of betrayal.
'Count Dracula, I presume,' I said wittily.
witty in British English
(ˈwɪtɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: -tier or -tiest
1.
characterized by clever humour or wit
2. archaic or dialect
intelligent or sensible
Derived forms
wittily (ˈwittily)
adverb
wittiness (ˈwittiness)
noun
witty in American English
(ˈwɪti)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈwittier or ˈwittiest
1.
having, showing, or characterized by wit; cleverly amusing
2. Dialectal
intelligent; clever
SYNONYMY NOTE: witty implies sharp, amusing cleverness and spontaneity in perceiving and commenting on,esp. in repartee and sometimes sarcastically, the incongruities in life; , humorous connotes more geniality, gentleness, or whimsicality in saying or doing somethingthat is deliberately comical or amusing; , facetious is now usually derogatory in suggesting an attempt to be witty or humorous that isunsuccessful because it is inappropriate or in bad taste; , jocular implies a happy or playful disposition characterized by the desire to amuse others;, jocose suggests a mildly mischievous quality in joking or jesting, sometimes to the pointof facetiousness
OPPOSITES: serious, solemn, sober
Derived forms
wittily (ˈwittily)
adverb
wittiness (ˈwittiness)
noun
Word origin
ME witti < OE wittig < wit, knowledge: see wit1
Examples of 'witty' in a sentence
witty
He had a temper but could also be witty and charming.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Witty and warm with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
The Sun (2016)
His observations are intelligent and very witty.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Or looking for something witty to say?
Christianity Today (2000)
She turned out to be warm and witty and committed to the cause.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Got to think of something witty and spontaneous to put them down!
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He was charming and witty and warm.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He was a warm and witty presenter.
The Sun (2016)
Celebrities adore an amusing, witty or cool phone cover.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The whole section was intelligent and witty, with just the right amount of quirk.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The script is witty and intelligent, with really compelling storylines.
The Sun (2009)
The game is slick, intelligent and witty.
The Sun (2011)
He's a very witty man and something marvellous has happened.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Peaches was also warm, witty and hugely good fun.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He was intelligent and witty, and also showed his deep commitment to ballet and to teaching.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
My mother was a naturally warm, witty woman.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But their intelligent, witty songs are matched by hauntingly powerful riffs.
The Sun (2006)
As warm and witty as it is shocking, this beautifully written story is hard to forget.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
So witty and charming and had such a brilliant mind,' she says.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He was also lively, witty, and charming.
Diane Purkiss The English Civil War: A People's History (2006)
Yet much to his surprise, he also tells me, he has found me charming and witty company.
The Sun (2012)
He was always available to journalists, a charming, witty lunch companion with a torrent of anecdotes and gossip.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I remained calm, charming, witty and obliging.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
witty
British English: witty /ˈwɪtɪ/ ADJECTIVE
Someone or something that is witty is amusing in a clever way.
His plays were very good, very witty.
American English: witty
Arabic: فَطِن
Brazilian Portuguese: engenhoso
Chinese: 诙谐的
Croatian: domišljat
Czech: duchaplný
Danish: vittig
Dutch: gevat
European Spanish: ocurrente
Finnish: nokkela
French: fin
German: geistreich
Greek: πνευματώδης
Italian: arguto
Japanese: 機知に富んだ
Korean: 재치 있는
Norwegian: vittig
Polish: dowcipny
European Portuguese: engenhoso
Romanian: spiritual
Russian: остроумный
Latin American Spanish: ocurrente
Swedish: kvick
Thai: ซึ่งใช้คำพูดอย่างมีสติปัญญาและตลก
Turkish: esprili
Ukrainian: дотепний
Vietnamese: hóm hỉnh
Chinese translation of 'witty'
witty
(ˈwɪtɪ)
adj
诙(詼)谐(諧)的 (huīxié de)
(adjective)
Definition
clever and amusing
one of those genuinely witty speakers to whom one could listen for hours
Synonyms
humorous
a humorous magazine
original
brilliant
The event was held in brilliant sunshine.
funny
I'll tell you a funny story.
clever
My sister has always been the clever one in our family.
amusing
He had a great sense of humour and could be very amusing.
lively
She had a sweet, lively personality.
sparkling
ingenious
a truly ingenious invention
fanciful
fanciful ideas about Martian life
whimsical
He had an offbeat, whimsical sense of humour.
droll
The band have a droll sense of humour.
piquant
There was a piquant novelty about her books.
facetious
Are you going to listen or just make facetious remarks?
jocular
I was in a less jocular mood than usual.
epigrammatic
waggish
Opposites
boring
,
stupid
,
dull
,
tedious
,
tiresome
,
uninteresting
,
witless
,
humourless
,
unamusing
Additional synonyms
in the sense of amusing
He had a great sense of humour and could be very amusing.
Synonyms
funny,
humorous,
gratifying,
laughable,
farcical,
comical,
droll,
interesting,
pleasing,
charming,
cheering,
entertaining,
comic,
pleasant,
lively,
diverting,
delightful,
enjoyable,
cheerful,
witty,
merry,
gladdening,
facetious,
jocular,
rib-tickling,
waggish
in the sense of brilliant
Definition
shining with light
The event was held in brilliant sunshine.
Synonyms
bright,
shining,
intense,
sparkling,
glittering,
dazzling,
vivid,
radiant,
luminous,
ablaze,
resplendent,
scintillating,
lustrous,
coruscating,
refulgent (literary),
lambent
in the sense of clever
Definition
displaying sharp intelligence or mental alertness
My sister has always been the clever one in our family.
Synonyms
intelligent,
quick,
bright,
talented,
gifted,
keen,
capable,
smart,
sensible,
rational,
witty,
apt,
discerning,
knowledgeable,
astute,
brainy (informal),
quick-witted,
sagacious (formal),
knowing,
deep,
expert
Synonyms of 'witty'
witty
Explore 'witty' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of droll
Definition
quaintly amusing
The band have a droll sense of humour.
Synonyms
amusing,
odd,
funny,
entertaining,
comic,
ridiculous,
diverting,
eccentric,
ludicrous,
humorous,
quaint,
off-the-wall (slang),
laughable,
farcical,
whimsical,
comical,
oddball (informal),
risible,
jocular,
clownish,
waggish
in the sense of epigrammatic
Synonyms
witty,
pointed,
short,
sharp,
concise,
pungent,
terse,
laconic,
succinct,
pithy,
piquant
in the sense of facetious
Definition
joking, or trying to be amusing, esp. at inappropriate times
Are you going to listen or just make facetious remarks?