Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

dunderhead

noun dun·der·head \ ˈdən-dər-ˌhed \

Definition of dunderhead

: dunce, blockhead
—

dunderheaded

play \ˌdən-dər-ˈhe-dəd\ adjective

Examples of dunderhead in a Sentence

  1. wondered how long it would take the dunderheads at the head office to screw things up

Origin and Etymology of dunderhead

perhaps from Dutch donder thunder + English head; akin to Old High German thonar thunder — more at 1thunder

Learn More about dunderhead

  1. See words that rhyme with dunderhead Nglish: Translation of dunderhead for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up dunderhead? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

adulation

play

excessive admiration or flattery

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

dunderhead

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games