know-all

noun

Someone who obnoxiously claims to be knowledgeable on a subject.

Similar
Buddhaclever clogsclever dickknow-it-allsmart alecksmart asssmartysmarty pants
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Meanings

nounknow-all (plural know-alls)

plural know-alls · alternative US know-it-all

  1. AustraliaIrelandUKSomeone who obnoxiously claims to be knowledgeable on a subject.

    The sub-manager proved to be a ‘know-all’ who had no faith in God or man.

    1933, Frank Clune, Try Anything Once, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 180

    Synonyms: Buddha, clever clogs, clever dick, know-it-all, smart aleck, smart ass, smarty, smarty pants

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSomeone who obnoxiously claims to be knowledgeable on a subject.

Similar
Buddhaclever clogsclever dickknow-it-allsmart alecksmart asssmartysmarty pantswiseacrewiseasswise-asswisenheimer

More synonyms by meaning

nounsomeone who thinks they know everything and refuses to accept advice or information from others

Similar
know-it-all
Broader
egotistegoistswellhead
Also see
clever clogsclever dickeinsteinknow-it-allsmart alecksmart arsesmart asssmartysmarty pantswiseacrewise guywisenheimer

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

know-all. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/know-all

MLA

“know-all.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/know-all. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “know-all,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/know-all.

Source: know-all on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.