Wiseguy

A wiseguy is a member of the Mafia or organized crime—the insider term mobsters use for themselves: He's a made wiseguy in the Gambino family.

More broadly, wiseguy means a smart aleck or someone who makes clever, often annoying remarks: Some wiseguy in the back kept interrupting the lecture.

The criminal sense dominates in American usage, popularized by mob films and memoirs.

mobster

Goodfellas

1990 gangster film

  • gangsterCriminal organization member
  • mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
  • made manInitiated organized crime member

capo · informant · witness protection · wiseguys · rat · Henry Hill · mob · associate · button man · earner

smartmouth

smartass

Annoyingly glib person

  • snarkCutting, mocking commentary
  • quipBrief, clever remark
  • comebackRecovery after decline

sarcasm · lip · sass · flippant · mouthy · insolent · joker · wit · impudent · retort

trickster

con man

Fraud through false trust

  • schemerCrafty, deceitful planner
  • hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
  • slickSmooth or craftily adept

operator · street smart · cunning · scammer · swindler · fast-talker · sharpie · grifter · charlatan · shrewd

Categories
Opposites
criminal affiliation

Wiseguycop

Law enforcement slang

FBI agent · straight arrow · informant · civilian · square

demeanor/attitude

Wiseguystraight shooter

Forthright, blunt person

naif · innocent · simple soul · rube · easy mark

intelligence/cunning

Wiseguyfool

Unwise, gullible person

dupe · sucker · mark · patsy · rube

Family

wise, guy, wisdom, wisely, wiser, wisest, unwise, guys, wisecrack

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Mostly American · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG-13