To save this word, you'll need to log in.
bone·head | \ ˈbōn-ˌhed 
\
\Definition of bonehead
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a stupid person : numbskull
bonehead
adjectiveDefinition of bonehead (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of a bonehead : performed in a stupid or clumsy manner
the shortstop made a bonehead play
2 : being a college course for students lacking fundamental skills
teaches bonehead English
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from bonehead
Noun
boneheaded \ ˈbōn-ˈhe-dəd \ adjective
\ adjectiveboneheadedness noun
Synonyms & Antonyms for bonehead
Synonyms: Noun
- airhead,
- birdbrain,
- blockhead,
- bubblehead,
- chowderhead,
- chucklehead,
- clodpoll
- (or clodpole),
- clot
- [British],
- cluck,
- clunk,
- cretin,
- cuddy
- (or cuddie)
- [British dialect],
- deadhead,
- dim bulb
- [slang],
- dimwit,
- dip,
- dodo,
- dolt,
- donkey,
- doofus
- [slang],
- dope,
- dork
- [slang],
- dullard,
- dum-dum,
- dumbbell,
- dumbhead,
- dummkopf,
- dummy,
- dunce,
- dunderhead,
- fathead,
- gander,
- golem,
- goof,
- goon,
- half-wit,
- hammerhead,
- hardhead,
- idiot,
- ignoramus,
- imbecile,
- jackass,
- know-nothing,
- knucklehead,
- lamebrain,
- loggerhead
- [chiefly dialect],
- loon,
- lump,
- lunkhead,
- meathead,
- mome
- [archaic],
- moron,
- mug
- [chiefly British],
- mutt,
- natural,
- nimrod
- [slang],
- nincompoop,
- ninny,
- ninnyhammer,
- nit
- [chiefly British],
- nitwit,
- noddy,
- noodle,
- numskull
- (or numbskull),
- oaf,
- pinhead,
- prat
- [British],
- ratbag
- [chiefly Australian],
- saphead,
- schlub
- (also shlub)
- [slang],
- schnook
- [slang],
- simpleton,
- stock,
- stupe,
- stupid,
- thickhead,
- turkey,
- woodenhead,
- yahoo,
- yo-yo
Synonyms: Adjective
- airheaded,
- birdbrained,
- boneheaded,
- brain-dead,
- brainless,
- bubbleheaded,
- chuckleheaded,
- dense,
- dim,
- dim-witted,
- doltish,
- dopey
- (also dopy),
- dorky
- [slang],
- dull,
- dumb,
- dunderheaded,
- empty-headed,
- fatuous,
- gormless
- [chiefly British],
- half-witted,
- knuckleheaded,
- lamebrain
- (or lamebrained),
- lunkheaded,
- mindless,
- oafish,
- obtuse,
- opaque,
- pinheaded,
- senseless,
- simple,
- slow,
- slow-witted,
- soft,
- softheaded,
- stupid,
- thick,
- thick-witted,
- thickheaded,
- unintelligent,
- unsmart,
- vacuous,
- weak-minded,
- witless
Antonyms: Noun
Antonyms: Adjective
- apt,
- brainy,
- bright,
- brilliant,
- clever,
- fast,
- hyperintelligent,
- intelligent,
- keen,
- nimble,
- quick,
- quick-witted,
- sharp,
- sharp-witted,
- smart,
- supersmart,
- ultrasmart
Examples of bonehead in a Sentence
Noun
the package's directions seem to suggest that anyone who would buy such a product is a bonehead Adjective
dreaded spending the holidays with his bonehead relatives
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun So, Jenny and Ken are boneheads and still think Fox is Jamie Foxx, because clearly in their world an Oscar-winning zillionaire needs to grovel for minor coins on this trash.
—
Robbie Daw, Billboard, "'The Masked Singer' Finale Recap: Who's Winning This Thing Anyway?," 19 Dec. 2019 For Pete’s sake, what are these boneheads doing at practice?
—
Los Angeles Times, "Letters: Look like the rare time where LeBron James made the wrong play," 18 Oct. 2019 The veteran gunner was a crucial member of Cleveland’s 2016 title squad, but his bonehead error in Game 1 of the 2018 Finals ranks among the worst blunders in league history.
—
Michael Shapiro, SI.com, "Ranking the Best NBA Finals of the Past Decade," 16 Sep. 2019 Pouring it on: President Trump rips Fed as 'boneheads,' calls for zero or negative interest rates
When might the Fed reduce its benchmark rate to around zero?
—
Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, "Trump wants Fed to cut interest rates to zero or below. Here's what it could mean for you.," 12 Sep. 2019 The bonehead penalties — celebration stuff, removing the helmet, etc. — shouldn’t be a factor against Oregon.
—
oregonlive, "Scouting the Wolf Pack: 5 questions, prediction with a Nevada beat reporter," 6 Sep. 2019 While affirming her government’s determination to find someone in the U.K. who does not think Trump is an unmitigated bonehead, May warned that the difficulty of the task must not be underestimated.
—
Andy Borowitz, The New Yorker, "U.K. Unable to Find Replacement Ambassador Who Does Not Think Trump Is an Idiot," 10 July 2019 Now some bonehead Photoshopped a horrific image on the shirt.
—
Fox News, "Whoopi Goldberg calls out Roseanne Barr for Photoshopped retweet: 'You did this to yourself'," 2 Oct. 2018 Now some bonehead Photoshopped a horrific image on the shirt.
—
Fox News, "Whoopi Goldberg calls out Roseanne Barr for Photoshopped retweet: 'You did this to yourself'," 2 Oct. 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Bonehead volunteers, neverending work, and the smell of decaying fruit that lingers still beneath my nose.
—
Leighshulman, Longreads, "In Foreign Territory, Wondering: Who is the Alpha Monkey?," 8 Aug. 2017 If new Broncos coach Vance Joseph can prevent Talib from making more bonehead moves on or off the field in the next 12 months, Joseph will deserve coach of the year honors for that achievement alone.
—
Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post, "Kickin’ it with Kiz: How would Broncos’ nemesis Philip Rivers look in a Denver uniform?," 14 Jan. 2017
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bonehead.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for bonehead
bonehead
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of bonehead
informal : a stupid or foolish person
See the full definition for bonehead in the English Language Learners Dictionary
Comments on bonehead
What made you want to look up bonehead? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
More Confusing Words—Quiz
- The magician
______moved the selected card to the top of the deck.
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- More Confusing Words—Quiz
How many of these commonly confused words do you know?
Take the quiz - Name that Thing: Toys and Games Edition
It's all fun and games until someone beats your high score.
Take the quiz - Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Add Diction
Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.
Play the game
Share bonehead
Time Traveler for bonehead
The first known use of bonehead was in 1903
See more words from the same year