noodle

1 of 3

noun (1)

noo·​dle ˈnü-dᵊl 

1

: a stupid person : simpleton

2

: head, noggin

noodle

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a food paste made usually with egg and shaped typically in ribbon form

2

: a buoyant, flexible cylinder of polyethylene foam used as an aid in swimming or staying afloat in water

Grasp the pool noodle with hands about shoulder-width apart, then extend arms straight out in front of you on the water's surface …

—Good Housekeeping

noodle

3 of 3

verb

noodled; noodling

ˈnüd-liŋ,

ˈnü-dᵊl-iŋ 

intransitive verb

: to improvise on an instrument in an informal or desultory manner

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• 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
• 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
• 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 noodle in a Sentence

Noun (1)

come in out of the rain, you silly noodle

since he's almost seven feet tall, it shouldn't be too difficult to spot his noodle in this crowd

Verb

He was just noodling around on the guitar.

It's a thought I've been noodling around with for some time.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Desi District also offers Indian fusion fare like Indo-Chinese noodle dishes, burgers, tacos and pasta, along with a Charlotte-specific Desi District Fit Menu of items under 500 calories with 30-50 grams of protein and under 10 grams of net carbs. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2025

Fieri uses classic macaroni noodles here, and our recipe testers liked how the size of the pasta matched the size of the diced veggies. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 June 2025

Verb

Soft Shell Crab & Udon At 888 in Nashville, crispy tempura soft shell crab crowns udon noodles in a rich, savory uni curry broth. —Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025

The potato noodles that bob across the top are pale and round, almost too slippery to catch between your chopsticks. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

perhaps alteration of noddle

Noun (2)

German Nudel

Verb

imitative

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1779, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1937, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing noodle

• cellophane noodle
• chicken noodle soup
• udon noodle

Rhymes for noodle

• boodle
• doodle
• feudal
• poodle

Kids Definition

noodle

noun

noo·​dle

ˈnüd-ᵊl

: a thin strip of dough made from flour, water, and usually eggs and cooked by boiling