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
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Recent Examples of slow-witted
Nevertheless, when her quick thinking and speedy writing save the day, even the exaggeratedly slow-witted Victor recognizes her talent.
—
Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
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
Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
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
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But the truly dangerous frontier is the American high school, where girls are willing to play dumb and give up their secrets, friends, privacy and virginity to fit in and find love.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
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There were those dumb America's Care Packages that bestowed special powers to popular players to give them unfair advantages.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Fans wear their favorite players’ name, beg for their autograph and spend stupid amounts of money just to be in their proximity.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
-
Not every bee was successful, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s such a thing as a stupid bumblebee, Loukola says.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Recovery of the bodies has been slow because of the chemicals and other hazards present at the site, Amos explained.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
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One of the most painful things about this disease is knowing that promising treatments are emerging, but funding barriers and manufacturing and procedural slow-downs continue to derail progress.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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My wife goes into the kitchen and returns with beer, fruit, and a few simple dishes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The measure needs a simple majority to win.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Hikers dip into shady trails lined with thick brush, a favorite path being the Myakka Canopy Walkway, which offers a rare peek into the ecosystems—both minuscule and massive—within the swampy marshland.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
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Whatever its former luxury, the boat now had cabins crammed with four-person bunks and an atmosphere thick with the scent of unwashed bodies and the steam of rations.—
Kevin Maurer,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Whether Tuchel will, in fact, be able to produce a more intense high-pressing style this summer, given the climate and the dense schedule, is another matter.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
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Visitors of historic New Castle are greeted with cobblestone streets, alleys, dense urbanism and a rich history that can only be found in a few other cities in the region.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slow-witted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slow-witted. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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