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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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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Though Cady has made some gestures toward helping the Bowdens, like his behind-the-scenes effort to get one of Anna’s death-row clients exonerated last week, Tom and Anna should not be so dumb as to ignore his ulterior motives.
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The entire plot to get to the bones seems incredibly 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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What to expect over the weekend Though Friday was expected to be the slowest day of the competition, the atmosphere at Cal Expo was anything but dull.
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Some residents are calling for civilian volunteers to help clear debris, frustrated by the slow pace of the rescue operations.
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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Measuring less than a millimeter thick, this sensor basically acts like a neuron in our brain, processing and keeping the information even after the original signal is gone.
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ZDNet Korea also reported that the Wide Fold uses 60μm ultra-thin glass on its inner display, 30% thicker than the 45μm used on the Z Fold 8 Ultra.
Cite this Entry
“Oafish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oafish. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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