what are differences between the words outwit and outsmart.

when I look at the dictionary both looks same, someone explain the differences?

when to use each word?

Question

what are differences between the words outwit and outsmart.

when I look at the dictionary  both looks same, someone explain the differences?

when to use each word?

Answer

They're completely synonymous. Use whichever one you prefer.

Answer

Hi Hunter,

'Outwit' and 'outsmart' mean about the same thing... but, according to the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA), 'outsmart' is used more often than 'outwit'.

Generally, in North American English, 'smart' is used more often than 'wit'... 'smart' is a pretty everyday word that can be used in lots of ways. 'Wit' is more specific and so used  less frequently.

The upshot is probably this: 'outsmart' is more common generally, it's definitely more common in speech, and it's probably the default choice. Use 'outwit' to upgrade your level of formality or to be more specific.

I hope this helps!