clueless

adjective

clue·​less ˈklü-ləs 

1

: having or providing no clue

a clueless case for the police to solve

2

: completely or hopelessly bewildered, unaware, ignorant, or foolish

clueless about what they want

cluelessly adverb

I played dumb. I have arrived at a point in my life where I can perform this stunt with aplomb. "What do you mean?" I asked, as cluelessly as I knew how.

—Steve Friedman

cluelessness noun

Mowrey is also trying to make a deer hunter of Bentley, whose cluelessness as an outdoors-man is a rich source of amusement to his country-boy crony.

—Austin Murphy

Synonyms

• ignorant
• unaware
• oblivious

Examples of clueless in a Sentence

When it comes to computers, I'm clueless.

They were clueless about what to do.

Recent Examples on the Web

The pair also teamed up for three movies based on Varney’s clueless Ernest character. Also a successful artist, Sartain spent time in New York City working as an assistant to illustrator Paul Davis, according to several reports. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 20 June 2025

Meanwhile, Nan is clueless to Nelle’s real identity, though the two seem drawn to each other. —Claire Franken, TVLine, 18 June 2025

Honestly though, as long as Ozzie and MH II continue their clueless ABs the team just has too many outs in the lineup. —David O'Brien, New York Times, 14 June 2025

Bill Murray as Steve Zissou in The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou Coming off of his dispirited character in Rushmore and the clueless Raleigh St. Clair in Tenenbaums, Steve Zissou is the most classically Murray of the characters he’s played for Anderson. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1743, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for clueless

• shoeless
• viewless

Kids Definition

clueless

adjective

clue·​less ˈklü-ləs 

: having or providing no clue