1 whit | Definition of whit

whit

noun
\ ˈhwit How to pronounce whit (audio) , ˈwit\

Definition of whit

: the smallest part or particle imaginable : bit what some people will do for a whit of publicity— Patrick Quinn

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Synonyms for whit

Synonyms

beans, bubkes (also bupkes), continental, damn, darn (also durn), diddly [slang], diddly-squat [slang], doodley-squat (or doodly-squat), fig, ghost, hoot, iota, jot, lick, modicum, rap, squat [slang], syllable, tittle, whoop

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Examples of whit in a Sentence

I care not a whit about what other people think.

Recent Examples on the Web

The gentle teasing of their peers — kids made popular by beauty, athletic feats or general coolness — bothers them not one whit. Mary Mcnamara, latimes.com, "‘Booksmart,’ ‘Euphoria’ and why we can’t stop going back to high school," 12 June 2019 Its largely fabricated, hit-or-miss story leaves something to be desired, but, at the same time, there's so much else to recommend the film that its lack of sterling storytelling doesn't matter a whit. Mike Scott, nola.com, "‘All Is True’ movie review: The year’s first real Oscar threat?," 7 June 2019 Without a whit of cumbersome scenery or signaling, the play slips from the 21st century into 1844, when a young German Jew arrives in the harbor of New York City. Ben Brantley, New York Times, "Review: ‘The Lehman Trilogy’ Is a Transfixing Epic of Riches and Ruin," 13 July 2018 This doesn’t detract a whit from its heart-breaking poignancy and the storm of emotions that leaves half the audience sobbing by the final scenes. Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms': Film Review | Shanghai 2018," 27 June 2018 The primary in Vice President Mike Pence's home state has turned personal largely because there's hardly a whit of policy difference among the three GOP candidates — Reps. NBC News, "GOP candidates' circular firing squad ahead of Indiana Senate primary," 30 Apr. 2018 Third: neither Roseman nor Pederson cared a whit about their supposedly tenuous futures. Marcus Hayes, Philly.com, "Eagles' Howie Roseman made draft moves that should pay off like 2017's did | Marcus Hayes," 29 Apr. 2018 But if the scandals keep building, if Pruitt stays on the TV, all his loyal and effective service to the tribe won’t matter a whit to Trump, who may well have a dyspeptic moment watching Fox & Friends and fire him via tweet. David Roberts, Vox, "Tribalism put Scott Pruitt in power. It may not be enough to save him.," 7 Apr. 2018 What reporters think and feel matters not one whit. Eric Adler, kansascity, "How we found our stories of child marriage | The Kansas City Star," 11 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of whit

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for whit

Middle English, probably alteration of wiht, wight creature, thing — more at wight

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More Definitions for whit

whit

noun

English Language Learners Definition of whit

informal + old-fashioned : a very small amount

whit

noun
\ ˈhwit How to pronounce whit (audio) , ˈwit\

Kids Definition of whit

: a very small amount That tree hadn't grown one whit in all that time.— Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

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More from Merriam-Webster on whit

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with whit

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for whit

Spanish Central: Translation of whit

Nglish: Translation of whit for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of whit for Arabic Speakers