1
2
as in idiot
a stupid person
called him a donkey when he refused to go along with their plans
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 donkey
These small donkeys, descendants of those brought to the area by miners, have free roam of the town.
—
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
Neither the outlaws nor Kennedy and Philomac realize that Kid (Eli Hart), temporarily freed of his boss, is on the hunt for his sibling, riding his faithful donkey and with a few tricks up his sleeve.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
The film uses music, the clippity-clop of hooves and twitching furry ears for her three donkeys — Palaye, Ruperto, Palomo — to surf critical acclaim on the film festival circuit to the upcoming Academy Awards.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026
Michelangelo’s response was to place the face of Biagio on Minos, the judge of the underworld, and give him donkey’s ears, symbolizing stupidity.
—Virginia Raguin, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for donkey
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
Neither the outlaws nor Kennedy and Philomac realize that Kid (Eli Hart), temporarily freed of his boss, is on the hunt for his sibling, riding his faithful donkey and with a few tricks up his sleeve.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
The film uses music, the clippity-clop of hooves and twitching furry ears for her three donkeys — Palaye, Ruperto, Palomo — to surf critical acclaim on the film festival circuit to the upcoming Academy Awards.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 19 Feb. 2026
Michelangelo’s response was to place the face of Biagio on Minos, the judge of the underworld, and give him donkey’s ears, symbolizing stupidity.
—Virginia Raguin, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for donkey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for donkey
Noun
-
The loafer mule emerged as a quiet breakout this season after a decade-and change of laying dormant, with Bottega Veneta, Victoria Beckham, Calvin Klein, and Celine all incorporating versions of the silhouette on their spring runways.—
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Alexa Chung put Malone Souliers’ Raquel 45 sandal to work during London Fashion Week on Monday, wearing the metallic pink mule while heading to the brand’s presentation in London’s Mayfair district.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Though beloved by many in the area, the burros have been targeted in other troubling incidents in recent years.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Keep an eye peeled for wild burros grazing.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This drunk moron — quite different from his character in the novel — bears a ton of blame.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
But new-era Survivors show their love and appreciation by voting your ass out, so … maybe not.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2026
-
That kicked your ass into gear.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The scale of the headloss was best summed up by Luis Suarez attempting to reason with Messi, before the Argentine did anything on the Suarez scale of stupid.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
But the new parking fees at Balboa Park are a whole new level of stupid.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Washed up, tabloid fodder, and marinating in existential malaise, Russ begins the series as a finely observed jackass who drives a Cybertruck, dabbles in crypto, and flashes a diamond earring at the club.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Still, the show never gets beyond Russ being a showboating jackass and Chad being the low-IQ projection of a showboating jackass.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
After Saturday’s glam — quarterbacks threw passes to smooth-moving receivers while running backs dodged tackling dummies — Sunday offers a dose of grit.—
Daniel Flick,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Harold Lloyd is the title rookie who gets to Tate University looking for football glory and maybe a girlfriend, too, and quickly becomes the resident tackling dummy in a template for sports and college comedies that followed.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Donkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/donkey. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
