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
  • We’ll always be thought of as too conservative, too dumb, too reactionary, too violent by too many.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Here, in this image of an ingenious skidding kitten—in both its brutality and its beautiful, dumb, playful resilience—lies the wisdom of Marcon’s art.
    — Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Parents who decline to vaccinate their children have been called selfish and stupid.
    — Nicholas Florko, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026
  • No one is evil, but people do stupid things, which accords with my own memories of college.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 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
  • Ahead, design industry pros share the 7 decor mistakes that could be outdating your living room, along with simple fixes to refresh the space.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The equation is even simpler for Bernie Margulies, CEO of American Compute, which advises on risk management for GPU financing.
    — Kif Leswing,Isabel O'Brien,Seema Mody, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • If the ’90s were all about thick lifestyle shoes—think basketball- and hip-hop-influenced styles like the Air Force Ones or Air Jordans—today’s models are about hugging the foot.
    — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Aritzia’s fall lineup is stacked with delicious jacket options, including this boxy, cropped jacket made of a thick, soft goat suede.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 29 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Oafish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oafish. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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