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Glite Dictionary
to outgeneral

to outgeneral

9.9
To beat someone by using better plans or moves, for example in battle
  • verb
  • /aʊtˈdʒɛnərəl/
translation icon : superar
  • He sought to outgeneral the competition by planning his strategy weeks in advance.

Examples

  • Six campaigns, he's outgeneraled us, outfought us, and outrun us.

    Fort Apache (1948)

  • The general was able to outgeneral his rivals by using innovative tactics during the battle.

  • In the chess tournament, she managed to outgeneral her opponent with a brilliant strategic move.

Synonyms

to outmaneuver
vsto outgeneral
  • US
15 7.7

Gain an advantage over someone by using skill or clever plans

is about defeating by superior strategy across the whole situation rather than one clever move
to outplay
vsto outgeneral
14 4.2

Do better than and beat an opponent in a game

focuses on defeating by overall strategy and planning rather than game performance
to outmatch
vsto outgeneral
8 6.4

Do better than someone in skill or performance

involves beating by superior strategy or tactics, not just raw ability
to outcompete
vsto outgeneral
2 6.1

To do better than someone or something and win

stresses winning by planned strategic advantage rather than only better results
to outrival
vsto outgeneral
7.9

Be better than someone or something in a competition

implies defeating by strategic skill, not merely surpassing over time
to outvie
vsto outgeneral
  • Archaic
9.9

To try to be better than someone in a contest or task

focuses on victory via superior tactics rather than just striving to outdo others
to outstand
vsto outgeneral
7.6

To be better than others in skill or quality

means defeating by planned tactics rather than merely being better in quality

How Strategic

to outgeneral
9.9
to outmaneuver
  • US
15 7.7
to outthink
8 5.9

Surface Forms

outgeneral infinitive
outgeneralized past
outgeneralized past participle
outgeneralizing present participle
outgenerals third person singular

Morphology

outgeneral = general (transparent) = out + general

Formed from productive prefix 'out-' meaning 'to surpass' plus 'general' (military commander); the meaning is directly inferable by analogy to verbs like outmaneuver or outflank.

Etymology

Outgeneral comes from the part out- meaning 'more than' or 'beyond' and general meaning 'army leader' or 'commander', so to outgeneral someone is to beat them by being a better commander. Think of it like 'outdo' plus 'general': you win by making smarter plans.