Definition of asininenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word asinine different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of asinine are fatuous, foolish, silly, and simple. While all these words mean "actually or apparently deficient in intelligence," asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception.

an asinine plot

When could fatuous be used to replace asinine?

While the synonyms fatuous and asinine are close in meaning, fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality.

fatuous conspiracy theories

When is foolish a more appropriate choice than asinine?

The meanings of foolish and asinine largely overlap; however, foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense.

foolish stunts

When can silly be used instead of asinine?

The synonyms silly and asinine are sometimes interchangeable, but silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior.

the silly antics of revelers

When would simple be a good substitute for asinine?

In some situations, the words simple and asinine are roughly equivalent. However, simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort.

considered people simple who had trouble with computers

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of asinine That these sayings are meant to reflect something both deep and asinine about the film itself is self-evident. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Feb. 2026 All of that would have seemed asinine mere weeks ago. Chad Graff, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 Speaking of people getting into hot water for saying asinine things, don’t miss Sabrina Impacciatore’s brilliantly inappropriate portrayal of Esmeralda Grande in The Office spin-off/continuation The Paper, which premieres on Peacock on Thursday, September 4. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2025 What's worse than luring Robert De Niro to Netflix for a boring, soulless and asinine political thriller? Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025 Alonso may not be the priority at first base for the Bronx Bombers, but to say there is zero interest is asinine. Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024 Altman’s is a plainly asinine claim; a bunch of code running in a data center is not the same as a brain. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024 Comedy videos about customer service and asinine Atlanta eatery rules were already popular on TikTok but have seen major pickup since Lee’s viral videos. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2023 Rogozin's claim that the only evidence Roscosmos could offer of the Moon landings was a book by Leonov is asinine. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 8 May 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asinine
Adjective
  • End these stupid, senseless wars.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Most of the films that came after are ridiculous and stupid.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The government thinks this is absurd.
    Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
  • The movie is also surreal, absurd and crowd-pleasingly funny.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Just cultivating and just feeding that division and those just absolute silly fights.
    Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The point is not to sell her business, not to get more followers, not to create a cult of her own; the point is looking at interpersonal dynamics, getting into conflicts, resuming those conflicts, and then sometimes doing silly things after drinking too much rosé.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Instead of simply challenging the more foolish of those woke policies, our federal and state governments seem hell bent on obliterating any activity that even hints of DEI.
    Maurice O'Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
  • This kind of talk is also politically foolish and risks alienating the many Americans who already distrust this war.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Stewie’s miserable, the other kids are miserable, and even the turtle is miserable… until Stewie begins rolling out his trusty array of devices to take them anywhere in space and time, turning every boring day at school into an insane and surreal adventure.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
  • But Sean Penn was so out there and insane.
    Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The Hawks, in one of the loudest, craziest environments of the season, eliminated Heritage in the 2025 semifinals.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Driving 1,400 miles in five days in an electric vehicle is crazy.
    Adam L. Neal, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • We were just stunned by my idiotic behavior, but that idea that of the constancy was suddenly were wiped.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Anything else would be idiotic.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Voorhees is mad about all of that, but made a point of clarification.
    Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Prince William and Kate Middleton were extremely mad at the press in 2012 over a topless photo scandal.
    StyleCaster Editors, StyleCaster, 7 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Asinine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asinine. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

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