witless

adjective

wit·​less ˈwit-ləs 

1

: lacking wit or understanding : foolish

2

: mentally unsound

… drive one witless with anxiety.

—William Styron

witlessly adverb

witlessness noun

Synonyms of witless

• dumb
• stupid
• slow
• simple
• ignorant
• thick
• foolish
• dull

Examples of witless in a Sentence

He committed a witless blunder.

a dog so witless that it is barely trainable

Recent Examples on the Web

Which isn’t to write off the higher-concept grossout shtick — something of a big-screen novelty in 2026, when equivalent material is largely the preserve of witless TikTok content, executed with far less flair and good cheer. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 June 2026

Try for yourselves, ye witless knaves— Take each to bed your Sally! — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

The shadows that flicker across the walls of a narrow alley as Belén fights off some witless soldiers. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 21 May 2026

To be even more fair: If every son listened to his mother, mankind would be without hours of TikTok videos of witless bros pranking baffled elderly farmers in Target. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

witless

adjective

wit·​less ˈwit-ləs 

: lacking wit : foolish

witlessly adverb

witlessness noun