oafish

Definition of oafishnext
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily far from being oafish, the professional wrestler was in fact a college graduate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 oafish His last moments portray him too much as an oafish simpleton, which undercuts both Leela’s brilliance and Krish’s leadership instincts, and moves the the play towards devices that prioritize humor over organic truth. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 17 July 2026 In a movie about two women who intuitively understand each other, Brandt and Trebs are charmingly oafish as men who are eager to fix a dishwasher but less keen on how to repair trauma. — Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026 But there’s value to the subtle, occasional mention of an appropriate insider name, a gesture that’s more like a secret handshake than the work of an oafish show-off. — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 25 Nov. 2025 Amin, who ruled Uganda for eight years, is usually remembered as a cartoon villain, with an oafish sense of humor that only made his cruelty more unsettling. — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oafish
Adjective
  • There are even times when an NFL coach will say or do something really dumb that makes news.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Our cybersecurity defenses were built for lone hackers and dumb swarms.
    — Michael Morris, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Trump’s super intelligence rebrand can ultimately be read in a couple ways, though arguably neither are particularly nuanced or incisive — just further indicative of the daily deluge of stupid.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Once upon a time, the idea that the world was growing stupider was mostly confined to the realm of dyspeptic reactionary polemic.
    — James Marriott, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Because mRNA technology bypasses the slow process of growing viruses in eggs, mRNA manufacturing allows for later influenza strain selection and fast production, unlike traditional vaccines.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • After his sudden death in 1960, Olivetti began a slow decline and was eventually broken up and merged with a telecommunications company.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • That single choice unleashes a harrowing chain of strange and terrifying events in the dead of night, turning a simple gesture of kindness into a real-life nightmare.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Waffles and pimento Another enduring element of Chick-fil-A is its famously simple menu.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The theme spills out into a walled garden, where the pool (which could have been a Raj pond in a past life) is lined with white parasols and thick, cushioned loungers.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • His lovely camel-hair coat and thick scarf on this cold day gave him an air of elegance.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Oafish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oafish. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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