as in moron
a stupid person
was considered something of a dim bulb at work
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Recent Examples of dim bulb
Not only are Hochul's numbers in bad shape throughout the state, the congresswoman is vastly smarter and quicker than the dim bulb governor.
—
Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Perrotta’s dark and wry comedy is about a suburban New Jersey high school election, between the ambitious and qualified but wholly unlikeable Tracy Flick, popular dim bulb Paul, and Paul’s sister, Tammy, who runs as revenge against Paul for stealing her girlfriend.
—Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Such stellar dim bulbs are critical for determining the lowest-mass end of the initial mass function.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 12 June 2025
Georgie, a big-hearted dim bulb, is working for Jim, who owns a tire store or something.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Oct. 2024
While there are dim bulbs in both parties, a special lighting area should be designed for Alabama Senator and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 25 Sep. 2023
Hamm's cop is on the case that involves moldy fast food, a deaf hitman and a bunch of dim bulbs not good at crimes.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 15 June 2023
The lack of clarity produced by a dim bulb.
—Pat Myers, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2022
Davy Jones, a British vocalist, was the cute scamp; Micky Dolenz, the drummer and primary lead singer, was the wild jokester; and Peter Tork, the bass player, was the lovable dim bulb.
—New York Times, 10 Dec. 2021
Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Perrotta’s dark and wry comedy is about a suburban New Jersey high school election, between the ambitious and qualified but wholly unlikeable Tracy Flick, popular dim bulb Paul, and Paul’s sister, Tammy, who runs as revenge against Paul for stealing her girlfriend.
—Brian Boone, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Such stellar dim bulbs are critical for determining the lowest-mass end of the initial mass function.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 12 June 2025
Georgie, a big-hearted dim bulb, is working for Jim, who owns a tire store or something.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Oct. 2024
While there are dim bulbs in both parties, a special lighting area should be designed for Alabama Senator and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 25 Sep. 2023
Hamm's cop is on the case that involves moldy fast food, a deaf hitman and a bunch of dim bulbs not good at crimes.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 15 June 2023
The lack of clarity produced by a dim bulb.
—Pat Myers, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2022
Davy Jones, a British vocalist, was the cute scamp; Micky Dolenz, the drummer and primary lead singer, was the wild jokester; and Peter Tork, the bass player, was the lovable dim bulb.
—New York Times, 10 Dec. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dim bulb
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
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And then, the rest of her life, filled with big stupids and everything else, will begin.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
19 Nov. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
In one drill, several team members stood forty yards upslope, pulling, as others below guided and balanced a silicone dummy in a litter.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Becker, 31, is one of the few young adults pursuing the fading art, which sees her sharing a stage with two dummies named Jerry and Ronnie.—
Greta Bjornson,
PEOPLE,
23 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dim bulb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dim%20bulb. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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