as in idiot
a stupid person
wondered how long it would take the dunderheads at the head office to screw things up
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Recent Examples of dunderhead
Back in 1848, being called a goose was like being called a dunderhead.
—
Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 26 June 2024
But don't be too quick to write off these tiny critters as dunderheads.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2023
The story’s hero, Nat (no last name given) is a classic le Carré character, a skilled mid-level field operative in the secret British intelligence services who is underappreciated and sometimes abused by the dunderheads above him.
—Richard Lipez, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2019
Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 26 June 2024
But don't be too quick to write off these tiny critters as dunderheads.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2023
The story’s hero, Nat (no last name given) is a classic le Carré character, a skilled mid-level field operative in the secret British intelligence services who is underappreciated and sometimes abused by the dunderheads above him.
—Richard Lipez, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dunderhead
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
“Dunderhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dunderhead. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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