dumb

¹dumb

adjective \ˈdəm\

Definition of DUMB

1

a : lacking the human power of speech <dumb animals>

b of a person often offensive : lacking the ability to speak

2

: temporarily unable to speak (as from shock or astonishment) <struck dumb with fear>

3

: not expressed in uttered words <dumb grief>

4

: silent; also : taciturn

5

: lacking some usual attribute or accompaniment; especially : having no means of self-propulsion <a dumb barge>

6

a : lacking intelligence : stupid

b : showing a lack of intelligence <asking dumb questions>

c : requiring no intelligence <dumb luck>

7

: not having the capability to process data <a dumb terminal> — compare intelligent 3a

— dumb·ly \ˈdəm-lē\ adverb

— dumb·ness noun

Usage Discussion of DUMB

There is evidence that, when applied to persons who cannot speak, dumb has come to be considered offensive.

Examples of DUMB

1. I'm not dumb enough to believe that.
2. It was a dumb idea in the first place.
3. He just stood there with a dumb grin on his face.
4. This is one of the dumbest TV shows I've ever seen.
5. It was dumb luck that we found this place at all.
6. His success is just a matter of dumb luck.
7. He was born deaf and dumb.

Origin of DUMB

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German tumb mute

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to DUMB

Synonyms

silent, mum, mute, muted, speechless, uncommunicative, wordless

Antonyms

communicative, speaking, talking

Related Words

inarticulate, tongue-tied; nonvocal, voiceless; dumbstruck; sulking, sulky, sullen

Near Antonyms

articulate, eloquent, fluent, voluble, well-spoken; gabby, garrulous, loquacious, talkative, talky; outspoken, unreserved, vocal; facile, glib, silver-tongued, smooth-tongued

See Synonym Discussion at stupid

Rhymes with DUMB

bum, chum, come, crumb, cum, drum, from, glum, gum, hum, lum, mum, numb, plum, plumb, rum, scrum, scum, slum, some, strum, sum, them, thrum, thumb

²dumb

transitive verb

Definition of DUMB

: to make silent : deaden <would lie around, dumbed by the drugs — Norman Mailer>

Examples of DUMB

1. <the terrible news dumbed her for a long moment, and then she burst into tears>

First Known Use of DUMB

1607

Related to DUMB

Synonyms

silence, extinguish, hush, mute, quell, quiet, quieten [chiefly British], settle, shush, shut up, squelch, still

Near Antonyms

agitate, stir

dumb

adjective \ˈdəm\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of DUMB

1

: lacking the human power of speech <dumb animals>

2

of a person often offensive : lacking the ability to speak

—dumb·ly \ˈdəm-lē\ adverb

—dumb·ness noun