1
as in fool
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
I don't want to be partnered on the project with that doofus
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in idiot
a stupid person
that actor invariably plays a doofus on screen but he's anything but one in real life
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of doofus
Ángel Vargas as Ferrando and David Wolfe as Guglielmo play their roles as complete doofuses.
—
Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 2 Nov. 2025
Peacemaker is a hero, his father is alive and kind, his brother is alive and his best friend, Rick Flagg is a doofus, Emilia Harcourt seems interested in rekindling a relationship.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
As the baby of the group, lovable doofus Vern came to life through 11-year-old Jerry O’Connell’s sweet performance.
—Sezin Devi Koehler September 1, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The dramatic wheels are set in motion early, with Shu-Fen, always pressed for money, further strapped by her decision to pay for her estranged ex-husband’s funeral, while attracting the amorous attentions of the good-natured doofus who runs the neighboring knick-knack stand.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for doofus
Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 2 Nov. 2025
Peacemaker is a hero, his father is alive and kind, his brother is alive and his best friend, Rick Flagg is a doofus, Emilia Harcourt seems interested in rekindling a relationship.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
As the baby of the group, lovable doofus Vern came to life through 11-year-old Jerry O’Connell’s sweet performance.
—Sezin Devi Koehler September 1, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The dramatic wheels are set in motion early, with Shu-Fen, always pressed for money, further strapped by her decision to pay for her estranged ex-husband’s funeral, while attracting the amorous attentions of the good-natured doofus who runs the neighboring knick-knack stand.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for doofus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doofus
Noun
-
Of course, comparing the bottle in question to contemporary releases is a fool’s errand—this was something different entirely.—
David Thomas Tao,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Breaking down such a layered metaphysical concept with the relatively few words left in this review would be a fool’s errand, but suffice it to say that all of the math miraculously checks out.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That Tomás, who has already survived the Great Hunger as well as a cruel workhouse, isn’t already a lunatic is perhaps less fantastical than the plot itself at times.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Duterte painted him as a lunatic.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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
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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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There is nothing in the past year that suggests that the portion of this global event that will take place in the U.S. will proceed with anything less than exhausting chaos, a spoonful of stupid, and a dash of tragedy.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Jan. 2026
-
And then, the rest of her life, filled with big stupids and everything else, will begin.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
19 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But those synergies and efforts to goose company revenue were not enough to outpace costs; the company was losing about $500,000 a year.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
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An Ankeny man violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act after killing a goose with his vehicle last year.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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However, unexpected and decidedly unwelcome guests keep turning up, including Beau’s brother, and a man who might be a homicidal maniac.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
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Not the fear of an actor out of her element, or the more mundane fear of a victim being chased around by an ax-wielding maniac.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Doofus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doofus. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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