1
: a short bar with weights at each end that is used usually in pairs for exercise
2
: a stupid person : dummy
Synonyms
- airhead
- birdbrain
- blockhead
- bonehead
- bubblehead
- chowderhead
- chucklehead
- clodpoll
- clodpole
- clot [British]
- cluck
- clunk
- cretin
- cuddy [British dialect]
- cuddie
- deadhead
- dim bulb [slang]
- dimwit
- dip
- dodo
- dolt
- donkey
- doofus [slang]
- dope
- dork [slang]
- dullard
- dum-dum
- 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 dumbbell in a Sentence
I feel like a dumbbell for making such a stupid mistake.
no, you're not a dumbbell—this is one of the hardest courses the school offers
Recent Examples on the Web
After searching his backpack, police allegedly found three large garbage bags, a 20-pound dumbbell, and directions to the nearby Chatham Street Bridge over the Cal Sag Channel.
—
Adam Sabes, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023
Plus, the neoprene coating makes the dumbbells easy to grip.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 11 Oct. 2023
There's a lot more to a competent arm training program than just camping out in front of the dumbbell rack and pumping out reps of biceps curls.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 29 Aug. 2023
That’s okay, the Session Tee can handle a short jog or a few dumbbell curls equally as well.
—Joe Niehaus, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2023
What are some mistakes people make with the dumbbell deadlift?
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 6 Nov. 2023
Archer Row Start standing with your left leg back, holding a kettlebell or dumbbell in your left hand.
—Mallory Creveling, Health, 11 Sep. 2023
Start by doing 10 to 12 reps of dumbbell or barbell skull crushers, focusing on the stretch at the bottom of each rep.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 6 Sep. 2023
Using sandbags and dumbbells as controls, our testers then weighed themselves several times to see whether the scales produced precise, consistent readings.
—Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 25 Oct. 2023
See More
Adam Sabes, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023
Plus, the neoprene coating makes the dumbbells easy to grip.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 11 Oct. 2023
There's a lot more to a competent arm training program than just camping out in front of the dumbbell rack and pumping out reps of biceps curls.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 29 Aug. 2023
That’s okay, the Session Tee can handle a short jog or a few dumbbell curls equally as well.
—Joe Niehaus, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2023
What are some mistakes people make with the dumbbell deadlift?
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 6 Nov. 2023
Archer Row Start standing with your left leg back, holding a kettlebell or dumbbell in your left hand.
—Mallory Creveling, Health, 11 Sep. 2023
Start by doing 10 to 12 reps of dumbbell or barbell skull crushers, focusing on the stretch at the bottom of each rep.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 6 Sep. 2023
Using sandbags and dumbbells as controls, our testers then weighed themselves several times to see whether the scales produced precise, consistent readings.
—Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 25 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dumbbell.' 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
1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Articles Related to dumbbell
Dictionary Entries Near dumbbell
Cite this Entry
“Dumbbell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dumbbell. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
dumbbell
noun
dumb·bell
ˈdəm-ˌbel 
1
: a bar with weights at the ends that is usually used for exercise or building strength
2
: a stupid person : dummy entry 1
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