as in thickness
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind
the sheer boneheadedness shown by the state's politicians, who have ignored the problem for decades
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Recent Examples of boneheadedness
The pressure brought forth both boneheadedness and brilliance.
—
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boneheadedness
Noun
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Drawing at least in part on information from Chalker’s defectors, the Pentagon constructed life-size underground facsimiles of Iranian nuclear facilities where the scientists had worked, attempting to duplicate even the thickness of the walls.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The exact figure, of course, depends on the liquid’s viscosity (thickness).—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If not for the stupidity of Joe Biden and the Democrats, ICE would have an easier job.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
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Smart, skilled, hardworking people gracefully put up with all manner of tragedy, stupidity, and institutional rot.—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Unlike its sibling concepts of dumbness and idiocy, stupidity isn’t really a personality trait.—
Jonny Thomson,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Compare that to punk rock, which used dumbness as a tactic.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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By the time symptoms first appear, the majority of these cells are lost forever, meaning the disease can progress for years before any of the telltale physical symptoms emerge—tremors, stiffness and slowness of movement, among others.—
Todd Weissman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
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The slowness of the day, the blue sky rising tall above the house—a house Daithí has built for her and their two girls—Eloise, their baby, will sleep here, in the shade, windows open to the sea air.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Livaura Retinol Anti-Aging Hand Cream Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that boosts cell turnover and collagen production, while fading wrinkles, fine lines, and reducing visible signs of aging like dullness, dark spots, and texture.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
4 Apr. 2026
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Now the brand is tackling dullness in blonde hair with its purple shampoo.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This season Fears has shown both the maturity of the player who came back to discuss his actions with his head coach, and the foolishness of the hothead who responded with the hard foul.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
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There was no foolishness tolerated from him and, of course, Magic, his lieutenant.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This is a rendering of Portman Holdings' plan for Amsterdam Walk, which has undergone multiple revisions to tweak its building heights and density.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
2 Apr. 2026
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In a 2023 study of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, those who followed a structured lifestyle program alongside usual care saw greater improvements in bone density after six months than those receiving standard care alone.—
Hadia Zainab,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Some may read this intro and roll their eyes, arguing that Lawrence’s patented self-deprecation and casual dorkiness are a big act.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Boneheadedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boneheadedness. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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