1
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
the captain finally had to deal with the cretin in the back of the plane
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in moron
a stupid person
in discussions anyone who disagrees with her is inevitably called a cretin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 cretin
But the good things Huff did 10 years ago don’t give him a lifetime pass to be a cretin.
—
Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2020
There are the buck-passers, cretins who are content to simply stand up, find another table, and pass their misfortune on to some other unsuspecting soul.
—Amiel Stanek, Bon Appétit, 26 Aug. 2019
Law's take on the royal cretin Vortigern ranges from very evil to very, very evil.
—John Serba | Jserba@mlive.com, NOLA.com, 12 May 2017
The problem, of course, is a small minority of cretins who are destructive just for the sake of being destructive, without any regard for the environment or any consideration for others who deserve to see our natural areas without blemish.
—Steve Lipsher, The Denver Post, 22 Apr. 2017
See All Example Sentences for cretin
Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2020
There are the buck-passers, cretins who are content to simply stand up, find another table, and pass their misfortune on to some other unsuspecting soul.
—Amiel Stanek, Bon Appétit, 26 Aug. 2019
Law's take on the royal cretin Vortigern ranges from very evil to very, very evil.
—John Serba | Jserba@mlive.com, NOLA.com, 12 May 2017
The problem, of course, is a small minority of cretins who are destructive just for the sake of being destructive, without any regard for the environment or any consideration for others who deserve to see our natural areas without blemish.
—Steve Lipsher, The Denver Post, 22 Apr. 2017
See All Example Sentences for cretin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cretin
Noun
-
Only a moron would cut the funding of an industry that actually brings revenue into the government’s pocket.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Seth Rollins gassed Bron up by saying Jey Uso thinks his dad is a loser and his uncle is a moron.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Saddled with an uninteresting jerk half the time and a muzzled non-entity the other half, there’s only a handful of moments in the first six episodes where Powell’s star power shines through.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
29 Sep. 2025
-
For a taste of the Caribbean, head to Kingston Kitchen at the Village Inn, where chef Shawn Fearon serves the flavors of his native Jamaica—oxtail, jerk chicken, ackee and saltfish, curried goat, and the best whitefish sandwich on the island.—
Christine Chitnis,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
More than a decade later, the series continues to reimagine American histories and channel primal fears — from clowns and cults, to witches and ghosts — with each installment cloaked in social commentary and camp.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
-
But that won't ease the fears of anyone who categorizes clowns as monsters.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
So, the parallel thing that I’ve been frustrated by recently is not just calling Trump stupid, but calling Trump voters stupid.—
Drew Broussard
May 22,
Literary Hub,
22 May 2025
-
Sometimes too stupid is actually smartski but sometimes is just stupid stupid.—
Caroline Downey,
National Review,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The impish Reeves brings puppy-dog codependence to the scruffy Estragon, who leans on Vladimir as his body and memory fail him.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Previously, dog owners were only required to report bites to Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, with no obligation to share contact information with victims — leading to many unreported incidents, according to the agency.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The player’s winning cards were a 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen and a joker acting as a king — all in clubs.—
Helena Wegner,
Sacbee.com,
24 Sep. 2025
-
If Payton doesn’t start shoving this offense through it, the joker’s on Broncos Country.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Rabies can be found in many other wildlife species, including raccoons, skunks, coyotes and foxes.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
-
After World War I, fur remained a status garment, though lower-cost furs like skunk, mole, and musquash entered mainstream winter wear.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cretin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cretin. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share