as in hulks
a big clumsy often slow-witted person
I wish he wouldn't bring over here that bunch of palookas he calls his friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palookas
Noun
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Very hard, small lumps or watery, soupy liquid are both cause for concern.—
Andrea Muraskin,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026 -
Otherwise, Florida’s corners have been inconsistent, taking their lumps against a deep, talented receiving corps.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Semifinalists earn 750,000 euros and first round losers get 87,000 euros.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
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This was an elimination game with the winners getting another opportunity to extend their season and the losers going on vacation.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The plot centers on the world-famous Running Men, who suddenly transform into dangerous villains attacking Tree City.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
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That’s because Steps centers on Cinderella’s stepsisters, Lilith and Margot, reimagining them as far more than one-dimensional villains.—
Ryan Brennan
April 9,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There are complicated brain-chemistry factors involved that have to do with testosterone, and dopaminergic systems, and kappa-opioid receptors, all of which seem to add up to a Jim Gaffigan joke about how men are morons compared with their wives.—
McKay Coppins,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
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The Dilbert principle — traced back to a quote in a 1995 strip — posited that managers and higher-ups are actually successful morons whose stubbornness is confused for real leadership qualities.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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What sets Brule apart from fellow idiots in similar setups like Borat or Philomena Cunk is Reilly’s ability to present Brule with deep pathos and a sense of mystery, offering glimpses into a dark backstory, all made unsettling by the show’s analog-horror aesthetic.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
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One gets the sense, reading DuBois, that Stanton’s fervor for political action stemmed from a dread of being governed by idiots.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For starters, there are the cost savings of getting one of these not-so-in-demand mutts.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
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Much of the rising interest is tied to claims that these mixed pooches possess more desirable aspects than many purebreeds or mutts.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Once completed, the $5 million acquisition will ensure the theater has a permanent home, a place where skateboarding clowns and leek-haired onions can continue to frolic and dance for decades to come.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
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Plot details are being kept under wraps, though the film has been described as a four-quadrant coming-of-age comedy set in the world of funny and evil clowns.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Like most common garden pests, skunks are often misunderstood creatures.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
5 Apr. 2026
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Health officials in Oakland County reported that a resident was bitten by a skunk last Friday, which tested positive for rabies earlier this week.—
Eric Henderson,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Palookas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palookas. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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