whip-smart

adjective

ˈ(h)wip-ˌsmärt 

variants or less commonly whip smart or whipsmart

: very smart or clever

whip-smart dialogue

But underestimate or patronise Jessica at your peril. She's whip-smart, ultra-ambitious and brutally honest.

—Kerry Potter

He is also whip smart and tenacious, driven and efficient, typical of the breed so often attracted to academic medical research.

—Lisa Belkin

Examples of whip-smart in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gatiss plays eccentric but whip-smart bookshop owner Gabriel Book in Bookish, which is produced by Eagle Eye and Happy Duck Films. —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2025

Now, some of today’s best teen writers take on the Bard in these 15 whip-smart and original retellings. —Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025

Adaptation to Conclude With Season 4 Aussie actor Ashley Zukerman (Designated Survivor) will fill the role of Daniel, a young and hungry congressman, while English actress Jessica Henwick (Game of Thrones) will play Helen, a whip-smart reporter. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 17 Jan. 2025

Once again, Schur has assembled a stellar cast of diverse characters, with crisp, whip-smart writing. —Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for whip-smart

• apart
• depart
• flowchart
• forepart
• impart
• pushcart
• rampart
• redstart
• restart
• subpart
• sweetheart
• upstart