Definition of gormlessnext
chiefly British
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily a comedy show that invariably portrays the British aristocracy as a bunch of gormless twits

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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 gormless This is the least intentional of this trio of gormless, spray-and-pray LPs but perhaps the most layered and ambitious. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026 There are worse things than watching Black, Rudd, and Zahn play three gormless morons on a mid-life misadventure, but almost every scene and setpiece is constructed with a haphazardness that blunders away their charm. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 23 Dec. 2025 Ustinov hired him, though, as Stamp had unwittingly replicated Billy Budd’s gormless behavior. — Rhett Bartlett, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2025 Much like bad prose, his gormless suits draw far too much attention to themselves. — Hazlitt, 19 Dec. 2024 Much of the movie unfolds inside the suburban Connecticut mansion where Lily lives with her gormless mother (Francie Swift) and her loathsome stepdad. — Justin Chang, latimes.com, 8 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gormless
Adjective
  • California is flush with dumb money and bad judgment, and an insatiable romance with an epic 1,200-mile shoreline.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • There were so many strangers ready to weigh in on my dumb life choices!
    — Sara Vilkomerson, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • But also, the audience is not used to people delivering blunt questions — no matter how stupid the answer.
    — Jade Tran, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Pierce and Kember were born in the same place on the same day, a lore-enhancing coincidence too stupid to make up.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The song develops into a slow-burn, lighters-up jam, its long, unhurried coda like getting lost in a sea of echoing, overlapping memories.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Protein and fiber slow digestion, supporting satiety and healthy blood sugar regulation.
    — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 22 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The best power pop is simple, direct, and memorable, in both words and sound.
    — Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The lack of close coordination between these simple details undermines the structure’s coherence and intent.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The public promenade that wraps around the bay in front of the hotel invites walkers, runners, and bikers to explore the historic pathway that leads to the thick, lush pine forest at the edge of the sea.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Bake chicken until deeply browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh registers 165°, 25–30 minutes.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Many of the strongest initial applications are the dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks that go unfilled, contribute to injuries, and pull people away from higher-value judgment and exception handling.
    — Navin Chaddha, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But in the years between Logic1000’s in-your-face debut EP and 2024’s duller, more careful Mother, her solo work became less singular.
    — Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 14 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gormless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gormless. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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