smart-aleck 1 of 2

smart aleck

2 of 2

noun

variants also smart alec
as in wise guy
a person who likes to show off in a clever but annoying way some smart aleck in the audience kept shouting clever insults at the nervous speaker

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples of smart-aleck in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Newton scored and so did backcourt mate Cam Spencer, that different style of smart aleck, who had 20. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2024 Perry portrayed sweet, sarcastic smart aleck Chandler Bing for 10 seasons on Friends, garnering an Emmy nomination. EW.com, 29 Oct. 2023 In this series launch, Billingham unveils a brash — and battered — smart aleck protagonist. Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2023 Declan Miller – a recent widower, ballroom dancer, and devoted smart aleck – has a full plate. Monitor Contributors, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 July 2023 With a smart aleck’s wit and a knack for clear-eyed lyrics, the Brooklyn singer is a sympathetic narrator. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 5 May 2023 In real life, however, Mr. Jaffee was the opposite of a smart aleck: a genteel, unassuming man whose in-person humor was delivered with a wink, not a cudgel. Neil Genzlinger, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2023 The Idea Oven — a suggestion box for half-baked whims, inspirations and notions for new products, businesses or innovations — was a regular feature in this column at the turn of the century (yes, this century, smart aleck). Eric Zorn, chicagotribune.com, 30 Apr. 2021 Ellie is a smart aleck 13-year-old with a mysterious immunity to the virus. Nick Romano, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smart-aleck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near smart-aleck

smart

smart-aleck

smart aleck

Cite this Entry

“Smart-aleck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smart-aleck. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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