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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oafish
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
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
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And the script’s very cute but deeply dumb leading man, Alex (Nico Carney), climbs a flight of stairs toward his best friend’s bedroom door.
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And there are no ego-destroying confrontations with people who know how to do things, who tell you that your idea is dumb.
Adjective
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But even the most perfect Constitution can be undone by the wicked with the help of the bought, the stupid, and the cowardly.
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White can believe Hokit said something stupid and still believe fighters should be allowed to speak for themselves.
Adjective
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The Virgo moon invites you to take a slower pace today.
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The Targaryen civil war has been a bit of a slow burn so far, though both sides of the family have suffered major casualties.
Adjective
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The questions Campbell needs to answer are simple.
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Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple.
Adjective
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The fire initially grew into a huge inferno, creating a pillar of thick, black smoke that could be seen for miles.
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That thick, ugly vein, the shrimp feeling, was gone.
Cite this Entry
“Oafish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oafish. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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