variants or less commonly whip smart or whipsmart
: very smart or clever
whip-smart dialogue
But underestimate or patronise Jessica at your peril. She's whip-smart, ultra-ambitious and brutally honest.Kerry Potter
He is also whip smart and tenacious, driven and efficient, typical of the breed so often attracted to academic medical research.Lisa Belkin

Examples of whip-smart in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Sally Rooney Rooney’s moving, witty and whip-smart millennial fiction has struck a resonant chord with readers worldwide. Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025 From dealing with odd estranged family members to escaping Count Olaf’s clutches, these novels are whip-smart and unusual in the best way. Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 10 Apr. 2025 There’s no hint of the speaker’s apparent annoyance in this delightful, whip-smart number. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025 As the self-sufficient adolescent Ari, Bateman delivers a performance wise beyond her years, with whip-smart comedic and dramatic timing born from instinctive avoidance. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whip-smart

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of whip-smart was in 1942

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Cite this Entry

“Whip-smart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whip-smart. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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