as in fool
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
he was a helpless mooncalf when it came to making decisions about even the most trivial things
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Recent Examples of mooncalf
Assholes can make great music, as can liars, hypocrites, mooncalves, illiterates, teenagers, and borderline personalities, but right-wingers cannot.
—
Rob Tannenbaum, The Cut, 23 June 2017
Rob Tannenbaum, The Cut, 23 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mooncalf
Noun
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Don’t let the cream’s $8 price tag fool you; the anti-aging find tackles fine lines, wrinkles, and clogged pores, all while being gentle enough for all skin types.—
Isabel Bekele,
InStyle,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Don’t let the small exterior fool you.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The lunatics who attacked the seat of government to try to change the outcome of a free and fair election are not patriots.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
6 Jan. 2026
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Now, after Miami’s 34-10 win Sunday at the New York Jets, you are officially allowed to wonder aloud about wild-card playoff chances and be seen only as way optimistic rather than as a raving lunatic.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Its organic cotton-blend cover is gentle on skin, while the goose feather fill delivers plush, breathable warmth.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Jan. 2026
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Nurture the geese who lay the golden eggs One of Aesop’s most famous fables is the tale of the goose that laid a golden egg every day until its owner killed it in an attempt to get all the gold at once.—
Sally Percy,
Forbes.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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However, unexpected and decidedly unwelcome guests keep turning up, including Beau’s brother, and a man who might be a homicidal maniac.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
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Not the fear of an actor out of her element, or the more mundane fear of a victim being chased around by an ax-wielding maniac.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Overwhelmingly, though, the most common response was to seek confirmation of their suspicions that Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were morons.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
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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
Noun
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Everyone in the imperium knows the emperor is a nincompoop—and yet no one wants to go out on a limb to criticize him.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
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Korda has declared that, because his nine sons are, frankly, nincompoops and rapscallions, Liesl will be the sole heir to his fortune.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
24 May 2025
Noun
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However, some seeds, nuts, and dark chocolate contain more.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
12 Jan. 2026
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Use olive oil, nuts, seeds, and avocado as primary fat sources.—
Brittany Poulson,
Verywell Health,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mooncalf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mooncalf. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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