1
as in hulk
a big clumsy often slow-witted person
it's not polite to call your brother a stupid oaf
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in idiot
a stupid person
anyone who took him for an oaf and tried to cheat him would be in for a nasty surprise
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oaf
Hackman’s aggravation early on that directors didn’t seek out and exploit his comic and even improv talents was handled unforgettably in his portrayal of Superman villain Lex Luthor, a flamboyant oaf of Trumpian proportions.
—
Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025
As women have enjoyed more economic opportunities, they’re less often forced to marry some oaf who gets violent after a few drinks — and, anyway, what self-respecting woman with independent means would want to marry, say, a fan of Andrew Tate?
—Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
However, the main resident of the island where the adventure takes place is — surprise, surprise — the large and lethargic blueish oaf known as Snorlax.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 7 July 2023
Curry in particular is well known for portraying villains (It, Ferngully, The Rocky Horror Picture Show), but doesn't always strike the right balance as the loveable patriarchal oaf.
—Lee Escobedo, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for oaf
Fred Schruers, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025
As women have enjoyed more economic opportunities, they’re less often forced to marry some oaf who gets violent after a few drinks — and, anyway, what self-respecting woman with independent means would want to marry, say, a fan of Andrew Tate?
—Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
However, the main resident of the island where the adventure takes place is — surprise, surprise — the large and lethargic blueish oaf known as Snorlax.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 7 July 2023
Curry in particular is well known for portraying villains (It, Ferngully, The Rocky Horror Picture Show), but doesn't always strike the right balance as the loveable patriarchal oaf.
—Lee Escobedo, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for oaf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oaf
Noun
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Remember the scene in Marvel's The Avengers, when Bruce Banner transformed into the hulk and punched a Chitauri Leviathan in the face, bringing it to a sudden halt?—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
28 Nov. 2025
-
Betty Gilpin as the strong-willed Crete Garfield; Nick Offerman as Chester Arthur, Garfield’s scheming hulk of a vice president; and especially Shea Whigham as Sen. Roscoe Conkling, a New York political boss whose power Garfield wants to circumvent, are magnetic and entertaining.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
12 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Dilbert principle — traced back to a quote in a 1995 strip — posited that managers and higher-ups are actually successful morons whose stubbornness is confused for real leadership qualities.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
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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
Noun
-
Many people envision salary discussions as adversarial encounters with winners and losers.—
Kwame Christian Esq,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Picking winners and losers, heroes and villains, pathways to success and failure, generates excitement for an event and manufactures a sense of urgency for maximal viewing pleasure.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There is nothing in the past year that suggests that the portion of this global event that will take place in the U.S. will proceed with anything less than exhausting chaos, a spoonful of stupid, and a dash of tragedy.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Jan. 2026
-
And then, the rest of her life, filled with big stupids and everything else, will begin.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
19 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together almond flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt, breaking up any lumps.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Sarcoidosis produces lumps or nodules in the lungs.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As Ray Winstone might say, what a prat.—
Holman W. Jenkins,
WSJ,
29 Mar. 2022
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Through it all, however, the gal has retained a sort of grand hauteur, even while prat-falling into a bush.—
Lester Fabian Brathwaite,
EW.com,
24 Mar. 2022
Noun
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Suddenly, these two louts are forced to support themselves for the first time.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
29 Dec. 2025
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The drunken louts who mocked and obscenely jeered the European Ryder Cup contenders at last weekend’s event at Bethpage Black golf course on Long Island would have loved it.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The ordeal generated local headlines, as Berman had to navigate sheer rocks and treacherous terrain in the dark to save the mutt.—
Joe Berman,
Outside,
26 Dec. 2025
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Having co-created the eponymous pooch, writer Bob Baker retained some of the rights to the character, but crucially not to the design or his connections to a certain Time Lord — hence the extensive makeover and the lack of references to the metal mutt's adventures in space and time.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
13 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oaf. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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