dumbbell

noun dumb·bell \ ˈdəm-ˌbel \

Definition of dumbbell

1 :a short bar with weights at each end that is used usually in pairs for exercise

2 :a stupid person :dummy

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See dumbbell defined for kids

Examples of dumbbell in a Sentence

I feel like a dumbbell for making such a stupid mistake.
if we don't give him a shove, the poor dumbbell never will propose to her

Recent Examples of dumbbell from the Web

Stretch these long tubes of latex like a rubber band as another substitute for dumbbells.

— ajc homepage, ajc, "Try these 5 workouts for a better bust line," 16 Aug. 2017
Minton, 58, is facing trial later this year on charges of murder for allegedly killing Hood after striking him in the head with the corrugated side of a dumbbell bar handle.

— jonece starr dunigan, AL.com, "Dispute over woman leads to fatal shooting in Theodore," 26 July 2017
Megan Crouse stood on a black yoga mat spread across the floor of her family room in Monrovia and pushed two 5-pound dumbbells above her head into an overhead press.

— andrea k. mcdaniels, baltimoresun.com, "Columbia-based gymGO lets you work out with trainers via live, two-way streaming," 26 July 2017
Exercises ▪ Bulgarian Split Squat: Stand approximately 3 to 4 feet in front of a bench with a barbell on your shoulders or a pair of dumbbells in your hands.

— jason wanlass, idahostatesman, "Get a leg up on your training," 7 July 2017
Lifting something heavy, like a dumbbell, makes bones bear more weight, and in exercise, stressing your bones is a good thing (to a point of course).

— mandy oaklander, Time, "How Strength Training Changes Your Body For Good," 6 July 2017
Boucher lifts four days a week, focusing on single-leg balance, dumbbell squats, and leg lifts, all geared around making his knee stable and strengthening the left hip and quad, both of which were also affected by the injury.

— mandela namaste, SI.com, "Will An NBA Team Give Chris Boucher A Shot?," 21 June 2017
Engage your core and pull the dumbbell in your left hand just past the outside of your body with a rowing motion using minimal to no rotation of your torso.

— jason wanlass, idahostatesman, "Jason Wanlass: HIIT is all the rage for a reason," 9 June 2017
Then, rapidly extend your hips, knees, and ankles with a jump while yanking the dumbbell overhead.

— anthony j. yeung, Esquire, "5 Next-Level Exercises to Break Your Boring Fitness Routine," 7 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dumbbell.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of dumbbell

1785

dumbbell Synonyms

Synonyms

airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, bonehead, 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, idiot, dumbhead, dum-dum, dummkopf, dummy, dunce, dunderhead, fathead, gander, golem, goof, goon, half-wit, hammerhead, hardhead, 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

Antonyms

brain, genius

Related Words

booby, buffoon, fool, goose, loony, lunatic, madman, nut, zany; loser; gawk; featherbrain, scatterbrain; beast, boor, cad, churl, clown, creep, cur, heel, jerk, skunk, snake, stinker, villain; bimbette [slang], bimbo [slang], himbo

Near Antonyms

egghead, intellect, intellectual, sage, thinker, whiz, wizard; polymath, Renaissance man; sharpie (or sharpy)

DUMBBELL Defined for English Language Learners

dumbbell

noun

Definition of dumbbell for English Language Learners

: a short bar with weights at the ends that is used to make muscles stronger
: a stupid or foolish person

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