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
  • Wow, the brown Democratic candidate calling the white Republican candidate a dumb immigrant — California politics sure have changed!
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • His current employer is Damien Cantor, an authentically sleazy and slippery character who operates under no discernible code beyond indulging a dumb, preening narcissism.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 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
  • The slow rate at which this is occurring indicates this cosmic vampirism will last for hundreds of thousands to billions of years.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The problem is that these systems are slow, expensive and don’t scale.
    — Reynald Fasciaux, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • His lyrics, his hooks, his unmistakable voice, his optimism, his belief in the power of a simple song to make people feel good.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Some people want to change the world, and others want to operate in simple harmony with it and savor life.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • If sauce is thick, stir in water, a spoonful at a time, to loosen.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Kitty-corner from the park is 16th Street Baptist Church, the city's first Black congregation, housed in a thick tan brick building of Romanesque-Byzantine design, which became a center for civil rights meetings.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Oafish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oafish. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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