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Outmaneuvered Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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outmaneuvered

[aʊtˈmɪnʊɚd ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

strategic advantage

Outmaneuvered is the past tense of outmaneuver. It refers to the act of gaining an advantage over someone by outsmarting or outwitting them. This word is often used in contexts involving competition, situations where tact or strategic thinking is required, such as in games, business negotiations, or military tactics. The term suggests a cleverness that allows one to avoid direct confrontation while still achieving their goals.

Synonyms

outfoxed, outplayed, outsmarted, outwitted.

Examples of usage

  • The chess champion outmaneuvered his opponent.
  • In the negotiation, she outmaneuvered the competitors.
  • The general outmaneuvered enemy forces with a clever strategy.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Military Strategy

  • Outmaneuvering is a key tactic in military strategy, where one side seeks to gain a strategic advantage by outsmarting the opponent's movements.
  • Famous generals like Hannibal used outmaneuvering during battles to defeat larger armies by using terrain and deception.
  • In modern warfare, the concept applies to both physical and cyber domains, where agility and cunning are crucial.

Sports

  • In team sports, players often outmaneuver their opponents by using fakes, speed, and agility to score points.
  • Sports like soccer and basketball emphasize the importance of strategy, where players can outmaneuver others to create scoring opportunities.
  • Coaches teach athletes to think ahead and read opponents, an essential skill for outmaneuvering effectively.

Psychology

  • Outmaneuvering can relate to social interactions where someone uses wit or manipulation to gain the upper hand in conversations.
  • It often requires a good understanding of body language and psychological cues to predict others' actions.
  • In competitive environments, the ability to outmaneuver is linked to higher emotional intelligence and adaptability.

Literature

  • Characters in literature who outmaneuver their foes often embody intelligence and cunning, such as Odysseus in Greek mythology.
  • In detective stories, the protagonist frequently outmaneuvers criminals through clever deductions and strategic planning.
  • The theme of outmaneuvering is common in literary genres like thrillers and espionage, where mind games drive the plot.

Origin of 'outmaneuvered'

Main points about word origin

  • The term 'maneuver' comes from the French word 'manoeuvre', which means to handle or manage, reflecting skill in movement.
  • It first appeared in English around the late 17th century, originally related to military movements.
  • The prefix 'out-' indicates exceeding or surpassing, creating the meaning of being more clever in strategy or tactics.

The term 'outmaneuver' combines the prefix 'out-', meaning 'beyond' or 'more than', with 'maneuver', which originates from the French word 'manoeuvre', itself deriving from the Latin 'manu operare', meaning 'to work by hand'. The verb 'maneuver' originally referred to military exercises, denoting the movements and tactics employed in navigating an army. Over time, the use of the term expanded beyond its military origins to refer to any strategic maneuvering in various contexts, including games, politics, and business. The addition of 'out-' signifies exceeding or surpassing someone in skill or tactics, reinforcing the notion of cleverness and strategic superiority inherent in the act of outmaneuvering.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,745, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.