as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily
a knuckleheaded attempt to increase efficiency that only succeeded in making things worse
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knuckleheaded
Adjective
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Okay, there's trying something new and then there's just being dumb.—
Samantha Highfill,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026 -
Why portray Dorothy as a doe-eyed ding-a-ling; as not just naive but dumb?—
Lili Anolik,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In tribute to Michael Keane’s hair-pulling on Wednesday, Cerys Jones picked through the stupidest dismissals in Premier League history.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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To do a lot less foolish, thoughtless, stupid, idiotic things.—
Gwen Faulkenberry,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Traditional humanoid robots depend heavily on data collected by human operators, which is slow and expensive.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
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Her days were slow and intentional.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This simple taupe geometric style peel-and-stick wallpaper is affordable, easy to apply, and looks gorgeous without being too bold or loud.—
Brittney Morgan,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
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The simple addition of zipper detailing adds a preppy energy to the top.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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They’re made of a buttery soft, thick material that will keep you warm and cozy at home all winter.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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Too thick of a mascara coat, and suddenly my gaze droops.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Knuckleheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knuckleheaded. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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