ASININE Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'asinine' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of asinine are fatuous , foolish , silly , and simple . While all these words mean "actually or apparently deficient in intelligence," asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception. // an asinine plot

Q: When could 'fatuous' be used to replace 'asinine'?

While the synonyms fatuous and asinine are close in meaning, fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality. // fatuous conspiracy theories

Q: When is 'foolish' a more appropriate choice than 'asinine'?

The meanings of foolish and asinine largely overlap; however, foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense. // foolish stunts

Q: When can 'silly' be used instead of 'asinine'?

The synonyms silly and asinine are sometimes interchangeable, but silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior. // the silly antics of revelers

Q: When would 'simple' be a good substitute for 'asinine'?

In some situations, the words simple and asinine are roughly equivalent. However, simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort. // considered people simple who had trouble with computers

asinine

adjective

ˈa-sə-ˌnīn

Definition of asinine next

as in stupid

showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment it was asinine to run into the street like that

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How is the word asinine different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of asinine are fatuous, foolish, silly, and simple. While all these words mean "actually or apparently deficient in intelligence," asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception.

an asinine plot

When could fatuous be used to replace asinine?

While the synonyms fatuous and asinine are close in meaning, fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality.

fatuous conspiracy theories

When is foolish a more appropriate choice than asinine?

The meanings of foolish and asinine largely overlap; however, foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense.

foolish stunts

When can silly be used instead of asinine?

The synonyms silly and asinine are sometimes interchangeable, but silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior.

the silly antics of revelers

When would simple be a good substitute for asinine?

In some situations, the words simple and asinine are roughly equivalent. However, simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort.

considered people simple who had trouble with computers

Examples of asinine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Comedy videos about customer service and asinine Atlanta eatery rules were already popular on TikTok but have seen major pickup since Lee’s viral videos. —

Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2023 Rogozin's claim that the only evidence Roscosmos could offer of the Moon landings was a book by Leonov is asinine. —

Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 8 May 2023 Damning emails, texts, and deposition testimony made public during the Dominion case revealed that on-air hosts and executives, and many others at Fox, privately said in 2020 that the vote-rigging claims against Dominion were asinine. —

Jennifer Korn, CNN, 20 Apr. 2023 Leo Frank, the Jewish superintendent of the local pencil factory, thinks the whole event is asinine, but the sticky, creeping quality of that melody should be a warning. —

Vulture, 16 Mar. 2023 Completely asinine? —

Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Aug. 2022 Her tweets are predictably asinine. —

Rebecca Makkai, Harper's Magazine, 17 Aug. 2021 The inflammatory language Abraham uses to score cheap political points against conservatives is simply asinine. —

Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2013 Of all things people should be arrested for this is the most asinine thing. —

Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 30 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'asinine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.