as in idiot
a stupid person
I felt like an airhead when I couldn't remember my new neighbor's name in trying to introduce him
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Recent Examples of airhead
Stereotypes about airheads in athleisure and ambitions of fame and fortune are each a form of fantasy.
—
Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
Her Ashley is the movie’s fourth and fifth wheel, dismissed as both a perfidious troublemaker and a New Age airhead—a life coach in need of a wife coach.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
The seven Beach Party films feature airheads enjoying sandy weekend fun, no teachers or parents in sight—though an anthropologist on the sidelines scrutinizes youthful mating habits through a telescope.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 6 June 2025
Tom Hulce is daffy and delicious as the airhead prodigy Mozart, but few of us can identify with that kind of genius.
—EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Paired alongside Williams and Dunst’s airheads, Ferrell plays a nincompoop Bob Woodward, but the role doesn’t give him much of a chance to cut loose.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025
Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain and Fred Astaire in Top Hat were essentially airheads.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2024
Unlike the original Hilary Banks, who is portrayed as an airhead, the current character (played by Coco Jones) is an intelligent and ambitious social media influencer with entrepreneurial pursuits.
—Giana Levy, refinery29.com, 17 July 2024
On Watch What Happens Live Tuesday, Tisdale was asked about going out for the role of Karen Smith, the lovable airhead eventually played by Amanda Seyfried.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2024
Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
Her Ashley is the movie’s fourth and fifth wheel, dismissed as both a perfidious troublemaker and a New Age airhead—a life coach in need of a wife coach.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
The seven Beach Party films feature airheads enjoying sandy weekend fun, no teachers or parents in sight—though an anthropologist on the sidelines scrutinizes youthful mating habits through a telescope.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 6 June 2025
Tom Hulce is daffy and delicious as the airhead prodigy Mozart, but few of us can identify with that kind of genius.
—EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Paired alongside Williams and Dunst’s airheads, Ferrell plays a nincompoop Bob Woodward, but the role doesn’t give him much of a chance to cut loose.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025
Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain and Fred Astaire in Top Hat were essentially airheads.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2024
Unlike the original Hilary Banks, who is portrayed as an airhead, the current character (played by Coco Jones) is an intelligent and ambitious social media influencer with entrepreneurial pursuits.
—Giana Levy, refinery29.com, 17 July 2024
On Watch What Happens Live Tuesday, Tisdale was asked about going out for the role of Karen Smith, the lovable airhead eventually played by Amanda Seyfried.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for airhead
Noun
-
The Dilbert principle — traced back to a quote in a 1995 strip — posited that managers and higher-ups are actually successful morons whose stubbornness is confused for real leadership qualities.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Overwhelmingly, though, the most common response was to seek confirmation of their suspicions that Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were morons.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
There is nothing in the past year that suggests that the portion of this global event that will take place in the U.S. will proceed with anything less than exhausting chaos, a spoonful of stupid, and a dash of tragedy.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Jan. 2026
-
And then, the rest of her life, filled with big stupids and everything else, will begin.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
19 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Airhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/airhead. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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