Synonyms of know-nothing

know-nothing

noun

ˈnō-ˌnə-thiŋ 

as in idiot

a stupid person

often disparaged her coworkers as a bunch of know-nothings

Synonyms & Similar Words

• idiot
• moron
• stupid
• ignoramus
• imbecile
• fool
• dolt
• dimwit
• loser
• prat
• knucklehead
• dummy
• dullard
• dunce
• dunderhead
• chucklehead
• airhead
• bonehead
• half-wit
• jackass
• mutt
• ninny
• blockhead
• pinhead
• lunkhead
• cretin
• nitwit
• doofus
• simpleton
• numskull
• goon
• oaf
• loon
• bubblehead
• nincompoop
• dumbhead
• hardhead
• donkey
• goof
• stupe
• meathead
• jerk
• ratbag
• dork
• schnook
• nimrod
• schlub
• fathead
• dummkopf
• dum-dum
• cluck
• dope
• deadhead
• lamebrain
• dumb cluck
• golem
• chowderhead
• yahoo
• clunk
• gander
• dip
• hammerhead
• ninnyhammer
• turkey
• birdbrain
• buffoon
• clown
• dumbbell
• noddy
• loggerhead
• dodo
• noodle
• saphead
• goose
• lump
• nit
• stock
• loony
• thickhead
• clodpoll
• cuddy
• mome
• dim bulb
• madman
• villain
• woodenhead
• clot
• booby
• yo-yo
• skunk
• zany
• nut
• boor
• creep
• mug
• snake
• scatterbrain
• gawk
• stinker
• beast
• cad
• heel
• cur
• churl
• featherbrain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of know-nothing

What began as conceptual satire about know-nothing critics with nothing to say became, Heidecker believes, more about the democratization of entertainment and the last days of Hollywood reverence. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026

How about the Hollywood know-nothings Susan Sarandon or Mark Ruffalo, who have so much to say about the suffering of Hamas terrorists but not a peep for people being brutalized and murdered by actual terrorists? — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026

How did liberal democracy go from being the uncontested winner of the Cold War to a hapless doormat for reality-TV stars and know-nothing podcasters? — Jamie Merchant, Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2025

Then there are those who rage against their children’s accomplishments, clinging to the hierarchy agreed upon when the child was a helpless know-nothing. — Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025

The secret is that Spike’s know-nothing naivete encourages us to see the world through the eyes of someone who’s new to every part of it. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 18 June 2025