as in idiot
a stupid person
often mistaken for a dullard because he never said much in discussions
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dullard
Well, that did not stop this throng of dullards from cheering and clapping.
—
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 July 2024
That’s a fine and appealing tone that builds (again) on a long tradition: Many a detective in the genre is known for easily outperforming the police, who tend to be depicted as well-meaning but overworked dullards.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024
They must get struck, bent, broken and shoved into the flames to mold the boy into a man, the dullard into a dagger.
—Tyler R. Tynes, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2023
Dropping the hammer from a stop gets it to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds, which opens plenty of opportunities for maneuvering around traffic's pokey dullards.
—Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 31 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for dullard
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 July 2024
That’s a fine and appealing tone that builds (again) on a long tradition: Many a detective in the genre is known for easily outperforming the police, who tend to be depicted as well-meaning but overworked dullards.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024
They must get struck, bent, broken and shoved into the flames to mold the boy into a man, the dullard into a dagger.
—Tyler R. Tynes, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2023
Dropping the hammer from a stop gets it to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds, which opens plenty of opportunities for maneuvering around traffic's pokey dullards.
—Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 31 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for dullard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dullard
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Dullard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dullard. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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