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Synonyms

wisecrack

American  
[wahyz-krak] / ˈwaɪzˌkræk /

noun

  1. a smart or facetious remark.

    Synonyms:
    quip, witticism, jest

verb (used without object)

  1. to make wisecracks.

verb (used with object)

  1. to say as a wisecrack.

wisecrack British  
/ ˈwaɪzˌkræk /

noun

  1. a flippant gibe or sardonic remark

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to make a wisecrack

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • wisecracker noun

Etymology

Origin of wisecrack

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15; wise 1 + crack

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.

It’s tempting to recycle an old wisecrack and call “One Shot With Ed Sheeran” the kind of Ed Sheeran thing you’ll like if you like this kind of Ed Sheeran thing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

The wisecrack summed up Bedi in many ways: an irreverent personality, and a rebel of sorts.

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2023

Harper and Castellanos seemed to send a message about the wisecrack when they arrived at the ballpark wearing gear inspired by Colorado coach Deion Sanders.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 11, 2023

The famous comedian/actor makes a wisecrack about the infamous Will Smith/Chris Rock Oscar encounter while accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2023

I waited to see a flash of the old Laura, with the mischievous grin and inevitable wisecrack, but none of that came.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.