as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily
foolish and doltish behavior that was really beneath you
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Recent Examples of doltish
Redmayne brings a sweetly doltish everyman energy to this increasingly off-kilter affair, with much of the dialogue between him and his co-stars (including Stratton-Twine as the missing woman’s slacker brother) improvised in disarmingly shaggy fashion.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doltish
Adjective
-
Nate Bargatze is not a dumb guy.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2026
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And what is dumber than a fart?—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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And that was so arrogant and stupid on my part.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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At some point, Brandon Aiyuk has to learn that stupid decisions come with consequences.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Recovery of the bodies has been slow because of the chemicals and other hazards present at the site, Amos explained.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
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One of the most painful things about this disease is knowing that promising treatments are emerging, but funding barriers and manufacturing and procedural slow-downs continue to derail progress.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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The actor, 39, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of simple battery in a Louisiana criminal court Wednesday, June 3, according to records obtained by USA TODAY.—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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At the time, the New Orleans Police Department confirmed its officers charged LaBeouf with two counts of simple battery for allegedly assaulting two men near a bar in the French Quarter.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Unlike thick denim, these pants have a summer-friendly fabric, so your legs can breathe instead of developing pools of sweat.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
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That’s because its light must travel through a thicker layer of atmosphere near the horizon.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Doltish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doltish. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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