smarty-pants 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of smarty-pantsnext
as in cute
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred your smarty-pants comments aren't helping matters any

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smarty-pants

2 of 2

plural noun

as in smarty
a person who likes to show off in a clever but annoying way I don't need to hear from some smarty-pants second-guesser that the theme for the party is all wrong

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of smarty-pants
Plural noun
Contact lenses came into common use only in the mid-20th century, but all-time smarty-pants Leonardo da Vinci had conceptualized them as early as 1508. — Kevin Brasler, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026 Rolling off the bed in a silicon sleep cocoon, Grace gradually evolves from a wriggling larval stage into a fully upright, walking and talking smarty-pants. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026 Eventually, the game builds to its own metafictional deconstruction, albeit in a way that lands as an emotional gut punch rather than smarty-pants twist. — Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarty-pants
  1. cute
  2. smart
Adjective
  • At their on-screen meet cute, Apatow hands Bamford $500 cash just to pitch her on her own documentary.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The showstopper is a very cute idea where each baker has to make a dessert cart with at least three classic desserts on it.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • Craig was highly rated, and the plan to try to be more physical with Sammis’ pro-style attack in a league increasingly dominated by teams built in the trenches like Texas Tech, BYU and Utah seemed smart.
    — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Having experienced the dial adjust the volume on its own while the case was in my pocket, a disable option seems smart.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of smart

Browse Nearby Words

smarty
smarty-pants
smash
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Cite this Entry

“Smarty-pants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarty-pants. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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