1
as in hulk
a big clumsy often slow-witted person
it's not polite to call your brother a stupid oaf
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2
as in idiot
a stupid person
anyone who took him for an oaf and tried to cheat him would be in for a nasty surprise
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as in thickness
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind
the oafishness of the investigators, who missed clues and mishandled physical evidence, is the reason why that crime was never solved
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Recent Examples of oaf
Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 7 July 2023
Curry in particular is well known for portraying villains (It, Ferngully, The Rocky Horror Picture Show), but doesn't always strike the right balance as the loveable patriarchal oaf.
—Lee Escobedo, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2022
Adding Paul into the mix as a bumbling oaf (and not even a particularly lovable one) creates an unnecessary love triangle.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 19 Oct. 2022
Jeremy Allen White stars as a famous chef who returns to Chicago to take over his late brother’s beef joint, and he and his new co-workers — including Ayo Edebiri’s newcomer and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s stubborn oaf — form a system that, usually, works.
—Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for oaf
Noun
However, the main resident of the island where the adventure takes place is — surprise, surprise — the large and lethargic blueish oaf known as Snorlax.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 7 July 2023
Curry in particular is well known for portraying villains (It, Ferngully, The Rocky Horror Picture Show), but doesn't always strike the right balance as the loveable patriarchal oaf.
—Lee Escobedo, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2022
Adding Paul into the mix as a bumbling oaf (and not even a particularly lovable one) creates an unnecessary love triangle.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 19 Oct. 2022
Jeremy Allen White stars as a famous chef who returns to Chicago to take over his late brother’s beef joint, and he and his new co-workers — including Ayo Edebiri’s newcomer and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s stubborn oaf — form a system that, usually, works.
—Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for oaf
Cite this Entry
“Oaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oaf. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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