Synonyms of imbecile

imbecile 1 of 2

noun

ˈim-bə-səl 

as in idiot

a stupid person

only an imbecile would leave their car unlocked, with the keys in the ignition, and then be surprised when the vehicle was stolen

Synonyms & Similar Words

• idiot
• moron
• stupid
• fool
• dolt
• loser
• ignoramus
• know-nothing
• dimwit
• prat
• dullard
• dummy
• dunce
• blockhead
• dunderhead
• mutt
• simpleton
• cretin
• oaf
• jackass
• half-wit
• knucklehead
• numskull
• ninny
• donkey
• bonehead
• pinhead
• nitwit
• loon
• chucklehead
• airhead
• goon
• lunkhead
• dumbhead
• doofus
• stupe
• dummkopf
• goof
• nincompoop
• hardhead
• dope
• meathead
• nimrod
• jerk
• golem
• dum-dum
• schnook
• bubblehead
• dumb cluck
• fathead
• dork
• deadhead
• ratbag
• turkey
• lamebrain
• schlub
• cluck
• buffoon
• clown
• hammerhead
• gander
• dip
• birdbrain
• clunk
• saphead
• noddy
• ninnyhammer
• yahoo
• dodo
• chowderhead
• mome
• noodle
• dumbbell
• loggerhead
• goose
• madman
• nit
• thickhead
• cuddy
• lump
• dim bulb
• stock
• clodpoll
• loony
• clot
• villain
• woodenhead
• booby
• skunk
• yo-yo
• zany
• nut
• boor
• snake
• mug
• creep
• beast
• scatterbrain
• gawk
• cad
• cur
• heel
• stinker
• featherbrain
• churl

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brain
• genius
• intellect
• intellectual
• thinker
• sage
• wizard
• whiz
• polymath
• Renaissance man
• sharpie

imbecile

2 of 2

adjective

variants or imbecilic

as in idiotic

Related Words

• idiotic
• dumb
• moronic
• stupid
• foolish
• inane
• fatuous
• witless
• asinine
• nonsensical
• brainless
• ridiculous
• unwise
• simpleminded
• absurd
• ludicrous
• derisive
• pathetic
• half-witted
• laughable
• harebrained
• weak-minded
• farcical
• silly
• jerky
• comical
• loony
• risible
• preposterous
• mad
• insane
• half-baked
• derisory
• cuckoo
• daffy
• unreasonable
• inconceivable
• nutty
• cockamamy
• wacky
• senseless
• incredible
• unbelievable
• kooky
• irrational
• daft
• unrealistic
• illogical
• unreal
• crazy
• screwball
• dotty
• cockeyed
• balmy
• fantastic
• far-fetched

Dissimilar Words

• serious
• earnest
• solemn
• reasonable
• logical
• rational
• realistic
• conceivable
• sensible
• credible
• believable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of imbecile

Noun

If the eventual outcome hadn’t been so tragic, and if one of the people involved hadn’t been an absolute imbecile, and if there hadn’t been a dearth of actual romance, their meeting would have made for good romantic fiction. — Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026

Insulting this imbecile became the most rewarding pastime on earth. — Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025

Evil is insolent and strong; beauty enchanting but rare; goodness very apt to be weak; folly very apt to be defiant; wickedness to carry the day; imbeciles to be in great places, people of sense in small, and mankind generally unhappy. — Sam Sacks, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2016

Hard to accept that these imbeciles represent the people in our government. — Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2016

Adjective

Prep school was one such imbecile society. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 May 2026