Definition of slow-wittednext
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily all but the most slow-witted readers will have solved the mystery long before they reach the book's final chapter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 slow-witted Soupy is a bit slow-witted, really bony, and awkward-looking. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2025 Conservative media has since helped amplify the idea that Biden is a slow-witted geezer. Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slow-witted
Adjective
  • Proof is just smart enough without risking making anyone feel dumb.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Trump has routinely mocked his political opponents and critics as crazy or dumb.
    Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • And then the second one is grassroots and bottom up and the local solutions to this thing that is a stupid business model.
    Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Allowing one nine years of eligibility is just stupid.
    Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Plane outlets are often slow, loose, or even nonexistent, and when delays stack up, a dead phone becomes a real problem—not just an inconvenience.
    Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
  • When Manning began teaching in the early 1990s, communication between teachers and parents moved at a slower, more deliberate pace.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Both include full integration of the climate controls into the screen, requiring more concentration to use and additional steps to make adjustments previously accomplished by pressing a simple button.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Scientists at Florida International University are developing a drug compound known as CTS2444-32, designed to reach deep brain regions affected by Parkinson's through a simple nasal delivery system.
    Ted Scouten, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Dandelion seeds easily take hold in bare spots, so keep your lawn thick and healthy.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
  • In addition to a thick webbed strap that's adjustable, the bag features two exterior zippered pockets with RFID-blocking technology to protect important travel essentials like cell phones, hotel room keys, passports, and credit cards.
    Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The 5,000-square-foot store and gallery will benefit from the street’s dense foot traffic and its proximity to the Museum of Contemporary Art and other cultural institutions.
    Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Mussels, for instance, create strong underwater adhesives and fibers through dense protein droplets.
    Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 20 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slow-witted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slow-witted. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster