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

There is a lot to love in Jane Austen: The wit, the gentility, the portraiture, the sly social observation, the romance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 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

This is who I came to see, Chronicler thought to himself, this is the man who counseled kings and walked old roads with nothing but his wit to guide him.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

His youth is a huge talking point, as is the fact he'll be pitting his wits against some very experienced operators in the months and years ahead.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

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

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

“It’s so interesting that you think that,” she says, which is Cheryl code for “U wot m8”.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 17, 2018

“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

“He’s no slouch at dog-breakin’, that’s wot I say,” one of the men on the wall cried enthusiastically.

From "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London

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

Thou wost eek what thy lady graunted thee, And day is set, the chartres up to make.

From Troilus and Criseyde by Geoffrey Chaucer

Among his Canterbury Pilgrims he says:—   A schipman was ther, wonyng fer by weste;   For ought I wost, he was of Dertemouthe.

From What to See in England A Guide to Places of Historic Interest, Natural Beauty or Literary Association by Gordon Home

Thenk eek Fortune, as wel thy-selven wost, 600 Helpeth hardy man to his enpryse, And weyveth wrecches, for hir cowardyse.

From Troilus and Criseyde by Geoffrey Chaucer

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

From The Guardian ● May 29, 2013

Then, as these things assail'd him, He wist not what to do; His knighthood almost fail'd him Amid that hellish crew.

From Translations from the German (Vol 3 of 3) Tales by Musaeus, Tieck, Richter by Thomas Carlyle

The trusty Eckart felt it, But wist not of the cause; His heart the music melted, He wondered what it was.

From Tales From the 'Phantasus', etc. of Ludwig Tieck by Ludwig Tieck

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

And again He came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they wist not what to answer Him.

From The Gospel According to St. Mark by G. A. Chadwick

Facilitators—some witting, some not—also open bank accounts, cash checks and sit for some interviews.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

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

The problem isn’t that confirmation hearings are too hard on the nominees, who are, after all, witting and willing participants.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 29, 2022

He rideth amidst a forest, and prayeth God grant him betimes to hear witting of Messire Gawain.

From The High History of the Holy Graal by Sebastian Evans