wisenheimer

[wahy-zuhn-hahy-mer] / ˈwaɪ zənˌhaɪ mər /

NOUN

saucebox

Synonyms

WEAK

know-it-all malapert smart alec smart-ass smarty smarty-pants wise guy wiseass witling

NOUN

smart-aleck

Synonyms

WEAK

bigmouth know-it-all smart-ass smarty-pants wiseacre wiseass

NOUN

smart aleck

Synonyms

STRONGEST

know-it-all wise guy

WEAK

smart alec smart-ass smarty smarty pants swellhead wiseass

NOUN

smarty

Synonyms

WEAK

know-it-all malapert smart alec smart-ass smarty pants swellhead wise guy wiseass witling

NOUN

smarty-pants/smarty pants

Synonyms

WEAK

know-it-all malapert smart alec smart-ass smarty swellhead wise guy wiseass witling

NOUN

wise guy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

know-it-all

WEAK

bigmouth smart-ass smarty-pants wiseacre wiseass

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for wisenheimer?

Wisenheimer—what a great word. Use it any chance you get. But if you want to change things up, try wiseacre (which can refer to an actually wise person, but is more commonly applied to someone who’s being wise in the sense of being presumptuous or impertinent). Perhaps the most obvious synonym for wisenheimer is smart aleck. Such people are often said to have a “smart mouth” or simply a “mouth,” as in You’ve got a real mouth—you better watch it! Such a person might even be called a mouth, as in Don’t be such a mouth, Brad. The term wisecracker can be used to refer to someone known for making wisecracks. The term wise guy can mean the same thing, but it’s often used in a gender-specific way (unlike wisenheimer and its other synonyms). There are also a few common terms that refer to such a person—they start with smart and wise and end with the same word (assuming you know what we mean). Wisenheimer and its synonyms are all typically at least mildly negative. Sometimes, you can call such a person a clown or a jokester or a joker, but these aren’t always negative, and they don’t necessarily imply sarcasm or facetiousness. A more positive way to refer to someone you consider funny is to call them a wit. A perhaps somewhat outdated way of referring to such a person is to call them a card or a wag.

Where does wisenheimer come from?

The first records of the word wisenheimer come from around 1915 from the US. It’s sometimes spelled weisenheimer, and an earlier form was wiseheimer. The heimer/enheimer ending comes from surnames that end the same way, such as Eisenheimer and Oppenheimer.

How do you use wisenheimer in a sentence?

Wisenheimer is extremely informal, and it may sound a bit dated, but it’s still fun to say. Here are some examples of wisenheimer in a sentence:

OK, wisenheimer, enough with the smart remarks.
We’ve got a real wisenheimer here, folks—he thinks he’s real clever.
My wisenheimer brother couldn’t stop himself from making a comment right in front of the principal.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A few times, he pushed back with a brief display of his New York wisenheimer attitude.

From Washington Post • Feb. 27, 2019

Adam McKay, the wisenheimer behind “The Big Short,” takes on Dick Cheney in his latest film, “Vice.”

From Salon • Dec. 24, 2018

At heart, as onscreen, they say, he is that wisenheimer with an arsenal of impressions who cracked up at his own sketches and “Weekend Update” one-liners.

From New York Times • May 17, 2017

It’s a nice touch that Kirk’s such a fan of the late 20th century wisenheimer rappers as they do, of course, mention “a pinch on the neck from Mr Spock” in their tune Intergalactic.

From The Guardian • Dec. 14, 2015

"Now don't be a wisenheimer, Jim," he answered quickly and I felt like one of my teachers was quietly making a point.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 5, 2010

wisenheimer

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

Related Words