IMBECILITY Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

imbecility

noun

ˌim-bə-ˈsi-lə-tē

Definition of imbecility

as in insanity

a foolish act or idea was arrested for the sheer imbecility of speeding down a dark road with no headlights on

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in madness

lack of good sense or judgment we were stunned by the imbecility of the ideas presented by this once-respected biologist

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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 imbecility When Constanze reaches her breaking point, Mozart’s imbecility is exposed as fragility. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for imbecility

Noun

Descano’s side went along with his insanity defense after approving a mental health evaluation by psychologist Eric Drogin, court records show.

— Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2026
Eleven of the 12 jurors accepted the defense’s argument that Clancy had acute postpartum psychosis and should be found not guilty by reason of insanity.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of insanity

Noun

With one of the regional sites next April moving from Bridgeport to PeoplesBank Arena, and another regional scheduled for Springfield, UConn has a chance to really extend the madness past March around here.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
Prison interviews and recovered footage slowly reveal how deeply entangled the two men had become in their shared madness.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of madness

Noun

Beavis and Butt-Head function as a note-perfect satire of teenage confidence and idiocy, but the sharpness of the writing has always belied the bottom-of-the-barrel intellect of its title characters.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026
It’s been a classic staple over decades of British comedy, which from Basil Fawlty to David Brent has rejoiced in puncturing pomposity to reveal idiocy and incompetence.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of idiocy

Noun

Black Beans and Sausage The simplicity of this dish allows the true flavors of each ingredient to shine through, meaning the earthy black beans won’t get lost in translation, even when paired with smoky sausage.

— Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026
Ebicos Those who don't mind a permanent camper installation might prefer the simplicity of the Happy Dreamer Electric, which deploys and retracts with a single push of a button.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of simplicity

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imbecilities

imbecility

imbibe

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“Imbecility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imbecility. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of imbecility

noun

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