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 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 Featured Presentations Final Destination: Bloodlines Family gatherings can already be a pain, but imagine that pain being asinine deaths that claim everyone one by one. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 17 May 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
  • What gave me the crazy idea to stand at the bar, listening to that woman being praised for her stupid f---ing commitment to New York City and her ugly f---ing buildings?
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Her mechanism for luring victims involves a stick, someone’s hair, her blood, and another person stupid enough to let her through their front door.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The combination of absurd temperatures, damp humidity, and having my hair stick to my neck daily was driving me insane.
    Kayla Greaves, Essence, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Plus, who doesn’t love Nick Offerman sharing the screen with absurd facial hair?
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The brazen, silly grandeur of the piece was astounding.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The Saturday Night Live alum's vast tattoo collection, at one point made up of around 200 pieces of body art, includes ink dedicated to his former girlfriends, as well as more silly, lighthearted designs.
    Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • That was questionable, but not egregiously foolish, in our view, because of the limited amount of time left.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Another agent pointed to how contractions in post-strike, post-pandemic Hollywood have decimated the theater business, creating new opportunities that Netflix would be foolish to pass up.
    Chris Lee, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • His votes, like his tattoos, just weren’t insane enough anymore.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
  • His voice messages of songs are amazing and insane.
    Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • But as Lilly explains to Ronnie, telling the truth now won’t do anything to absolve Hank — everyone already thinks Lilly is crazy.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Though that is highly unlikely, crazier things have happened in the NFL.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • In Johnston’s reimagining, Jim and Credenza Twit operate the most disgusting, dangerous, and idiotic amusement park in the world, Twitlandia.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
  • That’s just idiotic foreign policy.
    Jamie McIntyre, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • There's a reasonable chance that your Dem Senator who voted against it and is acting mad now was in on the play.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Elizabeth is the budding mad doctor’s fiancee, who’s dismembered under the blades of a rogue lawnmower in the opening scene of the film.
    Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Asinine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asinine. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on asinine

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