stupid 1 of 2

1
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily we watched as the stupid squirrels tried unsuccessfully to find a way to get the seeds from the new bird feeder there are no stupid questions

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest I can't believe we sat through the whole stupid movie

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

stupid

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective stupid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stupid are crass, dense, dull, and dumb. While all these words mean "lacking in power to absorb ideas or impressions," stupid implies a slow-witted or dazed state of mind that may be either congenital or temporary.

stupid students just keeping the seats warm
stupid with drink

When is it sensible to use crass instead of stupid?

The words crass and stupid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crass suggests a grossness of mind precluding discrimination or delicacy.

a crass, materialistic people

When can dense be used instead of stupid?

Although the words dense and stupid have much in common, dense implies a thickheaded imperviousness to ideas.

too dense to take a hint

When is dull a more appropriate choice than stupid?

While in some cases nearly identical to stupid, dull suggests a slow or sluggish mind such as results from disease, depression, or shock.

monotonous work that leaves the mind dull

In what contexts can dumb take the place of stupid?

In some situations, the words dumb and stupid are roughly equivalent. However, dumb applies to an exasperating obtuseness or lack of comprehension.

too dumb to figure out what's going on

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stupid
Adjective
So your hottest outdoor hot take is be more stupider. Outside Online, 29 Oct. 2025 Political insiders have always done and said stupid, racist and cruel things — the difference is that privacy doesn’t exist anymore. Matt K. Lewis, Twin Cities, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
An underrated gem — not enough people have seen this top-tier season — Squirrels Trip has some fabulous vocals, very funny lyrics, a heavy dose of stupid, and an engaging story. Barry Levitt, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025 People can be high achievers and still knee-walking stupid. Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 29 Nov. 2022 See All Example Sentences for stupid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stupid
Adjective
  • As Legally Blonde's Elle Woods, Witherspoon charted a memorable path from dumb blonde to Harvard Law School graduate.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Celebrities fight it out to be eliminated from the competition as quickly as possible to avoid being crowned the nation’s dumbest.
    Peter White, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite looking like a fighter pilot who could win a game of dogfight football, Colin isn’t framed as a temptation for Marissa, and a lack of sexy secrets proves to be a recurring blind spot for the series, even if those two have plenty of other skeletons in their massive, boring closets.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
  • All this after Fern just wanted to renovate her boring bookseller life by starting over next to her orc pal Viv’s coffee shop!
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • That was questionable, but not egregiously foolish, in our view, because of the limited amount of time left.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Another agent pointed to how contractions in post-strike, post-pandemic Hollywood have decimated the theater business, creating new opportunities that Netflix would be foolish to pass up.
    Chris Lee, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Hoover finished 319 yards on 34-of-50 passing, but his two turnovers were critical mistakes that led to TCU’s slow start in the first half.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Nov. 2025
  • When visiting the exhibit, plan on taking your time to make the most of it, or what the American Federation of Arts calls slow looking.
    Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • As that number decreases, exercises such as running and cycling will feel more challenging and tiring, and your endurance may decline as well.
    Alyssa Ages, Outside, 23 Oct. 2025
  • But Braun was solid before tiring and working through injuries that affected him on the ball over the final month last season.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The brazen, silly grandeur of the piece was astounding.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The Saturday Night Live alum's vast tattoo collection, at one point made up of around 200 pieces of body art, includes ink dedicated to his former girlfriends, as well as more silly, lighthearted designs.
    Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Choosing to send only one hero per call will also substantially reduce the likelihood of succeeding — if the morons even stand for it.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Only a moron would cut the funding of an industry that actually brings revenue into the government’s pocket.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • According to Bruce Blair, a former Air Force launch officer and nuclear policy expert, between 1962 and the mid-1970s the most powerful digits on the globe were simple – eight zeros.
    Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
  • That something as simple as a COVID vaccine might improve survival in cancer patients receiving standard immunotherapy has taken oncologists by surprise — in a good way.
    Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stupid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stupid. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

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