noun
wiseacre
WIZE-ay-ker/ˈwaɪzeɪkər/
A person who makes smug or irritatingly clever remarks.
The wiseacre lectures the experienced mechanic instead of helping with the repair.
Etymology
The Middle Dutch word meant “soothsayer” without insult. Its shift toward someone who pretends to know everything may have involved confusion with English segger, “sayer,” which could also mean “braggart.”
More examples
- Don't be a wiseacre; just give me a straight answer.
- The two wiseacres in the back keep mocking the speaker.
- I asked for directions, and some wiseacre told me to buy a map.
Forms
wiseacre · wiseacres
Similar words
- smart aleck
- Emphasizes disrespectful cleverness, especially toward someone in authority.
- know-it-all
- Emphasizes pretending to know everything rather than making clever remarks.