wit

No dichotomy better represents Berlant’s razor-sharp, thoroughly tasteful wit, which sits halfway between refined humorist and go-for-broke court jester.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026

The Canadian comedian, writer and producer Fielder is famous for harnessing the power of awkwardness, cringe and deadpan wit to great, if unsettling, comedic effect.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Lyrically, “Rubber Soul” revealed a new level of sophistication and wit in the group’s writing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

Charles said Liverpool was "a melting pot of ideas, warmth and wit"

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

At the end of the task, every number in the stack of papers she produced matched the computer’s output; the computer’s wit matched hers.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

For those who retain their wits, the open questions are still interesting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 31, 2026

At the end of each show, the judges pick two characters to face off in a battle of wits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026

Nanos warned residents in Guthrie's affluent Catalina Foothills neighbourhood to "keep your wits about you".

From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2026

I am reasonably educated, and at 64, I still have most of my wits.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 12, 2026

On this occasion Hercules had only his wits to trust to; he had to give all his strength to supporting that mighty load.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

After Thatcher’s Conservative successor John Major unexpectedly triumphed in the 1992 election, the tabloid boasted: “It’s the Sun wot won it.”

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 22, 2023

Let’s talk a little bit about wot the violence interrupters are.

From Slate ● Apr. 28, 2021

“Wot you ’ave to know about chimney flues,” he was declaring, “is that flues ’as several twists in ’em, cuz they’s attached to uvver flues wot shares one openin’.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 2, 2018

That doro wot, a resonant chicken stew flavored with berbere, cloves and goosefoot herb, is among the great chicken dishes of the world.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2018

I says each time,—and I goes out in the air to say it under the open heavens,—‘but wot, if I gets liberty and money, I’ll make that boy a gentleman!’

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

The Utes surrender an average of 76 points per game, which is the wost in the conference.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 1, 2011

But this week the wost was yet to come.

From Time Magazine Archive

Wast, wost, pa.t. 2d pers. sing. of the verb be.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

"That thow wost wel," quod he · "and no wyghte bettere."

From A Literary History of the English People From the Origins to the Renaissance by Jean Jules Jusserand

To thee ther mai nothing ben hid, Thou wost hou it is me betid: I wolde I hadde noght be bore, For thanne I hadde noght forlore Mi speche and mi virginite.

From Confessio Amantis, or, Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins by G. C. (George Campbell) Macaulay

We Are Young, too, is wistful for an era that was already full of wist.

From The Guardian ● May 29, 2013

As it chanced there were four human eyes watching that she wist not of.

From The Maid of Honour, Volume 2 (of 3) A Tale of the Dark Days of France by Lewis Wingfield

They wist not of her, nor cared, being transferred to other hands, and yet they stood 'twixt her and the precipice.

From The Maid of Honour, Volume 2 (of 3) A Tale of the Dark Days of France by Lewis Wingfield

Spenser writes— "Little wist he his fatall future woe But was secure: the liker he to fall."

From Great Ralegh by Hugh de Selincourt

To adapt Ko-Ko's celebrated song, he would say:— A boy may wear his hair in curls, or bear a pudding face, Some mothers, as you wist, that folly can't resist!

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105, September 2nd, 1893 by Various

An agent is a paid and witting spy; he formally, sometimes covertly, works for a foreign government.

From Slate ● Sep. 4, 2025

“We expect financial institutions will undertake every effort to ensure that they are not witting or unwitting facilitators of circumvention and evasion,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement announcing the order.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 22, 2023

And even though she’s the one holding the card, you could be on the hook too as a witting beneficiary of her actions.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 21, 2022

He was certainly involved, aware and witting of everything that was going on.

From Salon ● Apr. 22, 2016

"Sir," saith she, "Will you tell me no more of him, nor none other witting?"

From The High History of the Holy Graal by Sebastian Evans