Synonyms of dumb

dumb 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdəm 

1

as in stupid

not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily

don't call him dumb just because he makes the occasional mistake like the rest of us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stupid
• slow
• simple
• thick
• foolish
• ignorant
• idiotic
• dull
• dense
• unintelligent
• silly
• dopey
• obtuse
• doltish
• brain-dead
• thickheaded
• fatuous
• boneheaded
• vacuous
• brainless
• soft
• mindless
• witless
• bonehead
• mad
• unreasonable
• insane
• dim
• dorky
• irrational
• opaque
• senseless
• oafish
• weak-minded
• crazy
• dim-witted
• dunderheaded
• lamebrain
• pinheaded
• empty-headed
• moronic
• gormless
• slow-witted
• airheaded
• unsmart
• knuckleheaded
• chuckleheaded
• softheaded
• half-witted
• lunkheaded
• bubbleheaded
• thick-witted
• absurd
• birdbrained
• imbecile
• fool
• simpleminded
• feebleminded
• uneducated
• uninformed
• cretinous
• illiterate
• unthinking
• unintellectual
• asinine
• cuckoo
• illogical
• untaught
• unwise
• daft
• nonsensical
• lowbrow
• dippy
• wacky
• zany
• loony
• nutty
• daffy
• invalid
• sappy
• kooky
• preposterous
• fallacious
• harebrained
• screwball
• dotty
• crackpot
• boobish
• cockeyed
• balmy
• half-baked
• tomfool
• featherheaded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• smart
• intelligent
• brilliant
• clever
• quick
• bright
• apt
• sharp
• fast
• wise
• ingenious
• keen
• nimble
• resourceful
• thinking
• acute
• savvy
• astute
• knowing
• intellectual
• insightful
• perceptive
• sagacious
• brainy
• cerebral
• keen
• knowledgeable
• learned
• literate
• discerning
• supersmart
• quick-witted
• skilled
• erudite
• sage
• informed
• educated
• sharp-witted
• ultrasmart
• scholarly
• shrewd
• trained
• cunning
• hyperintelligent
• reasonable
• perspicacious
• sound
• wily
• sensible
• crafty
• sapient
• logical
• prudent
• valid
• sane
• highbrow
• rational
• percipient
• judicious
• well-read
• foxy
• schooled

2

as in reserved

tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination)

he prefers to remain dumb, and replies in monosyllables if really pressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reserved
• restrained
• silent
• laconic
• taciturn
• uncommunicative
• reticent
• tight-lipped
• aloof
• closemouthed
• introverted
• inhibited
• backward
• sheepish
• bashful
• coy
• diffident
• staid
• sedate
• retiring
• modest
• sober
• indrawn
• demure
• self-effacing
• self-contained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• talkative
• communicative
• conversational
• loquacious
• vocal
• outspoken
• chatty
• talky
• garrulous
• unreserved
• mouthy
• blabby
• gabby
• gossipy
• motormouthed
• wordy
• rambling
• verbose
• prolix
• windy
• diffuse
• outgoing
• free-spoken
• gregarious
• sociable
• extroverted
• long-winded
• talebearing

dumb

2 of 2

verb

as in to mute

to stop the noise or speech of

the terrible news dumbed her for a long moment, and then she burst into tears

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mute
• shush
• quiet
• silence
• hush
• still
• settle
• shut up
• extinguish
• quell
• quieten
• squelch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stir
• agitate

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dumb contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dumb are crass, dense, dull, and stupid. While all these words mean "lacking in power to absorb ideas or impressions," dumb applies to an exasperating obtuseness or lack of comprehension.

too dumb to figure out what's going on

When would crass be a good substitute for dumb?

While in some cases nearly identical to dumb, crass suggests a grossness of mind precluding discrimination or delicacy.

a crass, materialistic people

Where would dense be a reasonable alternative to dumb?

The synonyms dense and dumb are sometimes interchangeable, but dense implies a thickheaded imperviousness to ideas.

too dense to take a hint

In what contexts can dull take the place of dumb?

Although the words dull and dumb have much in common, dull suggests a slow or sluggish mind such as results from disease, depression, or shock.

monotonous work that leaves the mind dull

When is stupid a more appropriate choice than dumb?

While the synonyms stupid and dumb are close in meaning, stupid implies a slow-witted or dazed state of mind that may be either congenital or temporary.

stupid students just keeping the seats warm

stupid with drink

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dumb

Adjective

Security agencies staffed by dumb thugs are typically inept at identifying genuine subversive threats. —Elizabeth Tsurkov, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026

Unless the bookshelf has no backing and can be flipped around, putting them in backwards is, indeed, dumb. —Judith Martin, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026

Verb

Are Rory and Cobby dumb enough to believe that Mr. Besegai’s goons (including Paul Walter Hauser) were dispatched to help them rather than to tie up loose ends? —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 1 Aug. 2024

This includes throwing out 31 of 47 runners dumb enough to run on him in 2022. —James Yasko, Chron, 24 Mar. 2023