Synonyms
- airhead
- birdbrain
- blockhead
- bonehead
- bubblehead
- chowderhead
- chucklehead
- clodpoll
- clodpole
- clot [British]
- cluck
- clunk
- cretin
- cuddy [British dialect]
- cuddie
- deadhead
- 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
- numbskull
- oaf
- pinhead
- prat [British]
- ratbag [chiefly Australian]
- saphead
- schlub [slang]
- shlub
- schnook [slang]
- simpleton
- stock
- stupe
- stupid
- thickhead
- turkey
- woodenhead
- yahoo
- yo-yo
Examples of dim bulb in a Sentence
He was considered something of a dim bulb by his coworkers.
Recent Examples on the Web
While there are dim bulbs in both parties, a special lighting area should be designed for Alabama Senator and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville.
—
Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 25 Sep. 2023
Hamm's cop is on the case that involves moldy fast food, a deaf hitman and a bunch of dim bulbs not good at crimes.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 15 June 2023
The lack of clarity produced by a dim bulb.
—Pat Myers, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2022
Davy Jones, a British vocalist, was the cute scamp; Micky Dolenz, the drummer and primary lead singer, was the wild jokester; and Peter Tork, the bass player, was the lovable dim bulb.
—New York Times, 10 Dec. 2021
Paul Rudd, charming as always, is the title character in this 2011 comedy about a dim bulb who upends his sisters’ lives after he’s busted for selling pot to a cop.
—Jim Kiest, ExpressNews.com, 22 Dec. 2020
Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 25 Sep. 2023
Hamm's cop is on the case that involves moldy fast food, a deaf hitman and a bunch of dim bulbs not good at crimes.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 15 June 2023
The lack of clarity produced by a dim bulb.
—Pat Myers, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2022
Davy Jones, a British vocalist, was the cute scamp; Micky Dolenz, the drummer and primary lead singer, was the wild jokester; and Peter Tork, the bass player, was the lovable dim bulb.
—New York Times, 10 Dec. 2021
Paul Rudd, charming as always, is the title character in this 2011 comedy about a dim bulb who upends his sisters’ lives after he’s busted for selling pot to a cop.
—Jim Kiest, ExpressNews.com, 22 Dec. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dim bulb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1927, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near dim bulb
Cite this Entry
“Dim bulb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dim%20bulb. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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