Looking for synonyms for know-it-all? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of other ways to say know-it-all.
- Smarty-pants
- Mr. Know-All
- Know-all
- Brainiac
- Wiseacre
- Walking encyclopedia
- Smart aleck
- Wise guy
- Intellectual show-off
- Pseudo-scholar
Want to learn how to say know-it-all professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.
1. Smarty-pants
Appropriate to use in a casual or semi-formal setting, often with a humorous tone. It implies someone who is overly confident in their knowledge.
- Example: “John always has an answer for everything; he’s such a smarty-pants when it comes to history.”
2. Mr. Know-All
Used in a slightly mocking way to describe someone who acts as if they have extensive knowledge about every topic.
- Example: “During the team meeting, Mr. Know-All was quick to correct everyone’s reports.”
3. Know-all
Similar to “Mr. Know-All,” but gender-neutral. It’s used when someone appears to claim authority on many subjects, often annoyingly.
- Example: “Our new colleague is a real know-all, always eager to share her opinions on topics she’s not familiar with.”
4. Brainiac
Used in both positive and negative contexts, it refers to someone exceptionally intelligent or knowledgeable, sometimes overly so.
- Example: “Ask Sarah about the project details; she’s the brainiac of our department.”
5. Wiseacre
Implies a person who pretends to be knowledgeable or witty, often in a sarcastic manner. Best used in informal contexts.
- Example: “Mike, the office wiseacre, had a sarcastic comment for every suggestion in the meeting.”
6. Walking encyclopedia
A positive term for someone who has a vast amount of knowledge, especially factual information.
- Example: “Our professor is a walking encyclopedia on medieval history.”
7. Smart aleck
Used to describe someone who is irritatingly clever or sarcastic, often in a disrespectful way.
- Example: “The team didn’t appreciate the smart aleck’s remarks during the serious discussion.”
8. Wise guy
Similar to “smart aleck,” but can also imply a sense of cunning or street smartness.
- Example: “He’s a wise guy, always finding loopholes in the system to benefit his agenda.”
9. Intellectual show-off
Describes someone who ostentatiously displays their knowledge, often to gain attention or admiration.
- Example: “In every conference, there’s always an intellectual show-off who uses complex jargon just to impress.”
10. Pseudo-scholar
Refers to a person who pretends to have scholarly knowledge or expertise that they do not actually possess.
- Example: “The pseudo-scholar tried to critique the report but got his facts wrong.”
