wit

noun

1) (wits)

he needed all his wits to escape

Syn:

intelligence, shrewdness, astuteness, cleverness, canniness, sense, common sense, wisdom, sagacity, judgment, acumen, insight; brains, mind; informal gumption, savvy, horse sense, smarts, street smarts

2)

my sparkling wit

Syn:

wittiness, humor, funniness, drollery, esprit; repartee, badinage, banter, wordplay; jokes, witticisms, quips, puns

3)

she's such a wit

Syn:

comedian, humorist, comic, joker, jokester; informal wag, card, funnyman

••

wit, humor, irony, repartee, sarcasm, satire

If you're good at perceiving analogies between dissimilar things and expressing them in quick, sharp, spontaneous observations or remarks, you have wit. Humor, on the other hand, is the ability to perceive what is comical, ridiculous, or ludicrous in a situation or character, and to express it in a way that makes others see or feel the same thing. It suggests more sympathy, tolerance, and kindliness than wit (she maintained a sense of humor in the midst of trying circumstances). Irony is the implicit humor in the contradiction between what is meant and what is expressed, or in the discrepancy between appearance and reality. An example would be to shout, in the midst of a hurricane, "What a perfect day for a wedding!" Although sarcasm may take the form of irony, it is less subtle and is often used harshly or bitterly to wound or ridicule someone. Unlike irony, however, sarcasm depends on tone of voice for its effect ("a fine friend you turned out to be!" he said, with obvious sarcasm). Satire usually implies the use of sarcasm or irony for the purpose of ridicule or criticism, often directed at institutions or political figures (she wrote political satire for the comedy team). If you are good at making quick, witty replies, you will be known for your repartee, which is the art of responding pointedly and skillfully with wit or humor in a conversational exchange (no one could compete with her witty repartee).