stupid 1 of 2

adjective

ˈstü-pəd How to pronounce stupid (audio)
Definition of stupidnext
1
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily we watched as the stupid squirrels tried unsuccessfully to find a way to get the seeds from the new bird feeder there are no stupid questions

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2
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest I can't believe we sat through the whole stupid movie

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in foolish
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment not liking the captain is a stupid reason to quit the team

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stupid

2 of 2

noun

as in idiot
a stupid person a genius at math, but a total stupid when it came to his love life

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective stupid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of stupid are crass, dense, dull, and dumb. While all these words mean "lacking in power to absorb ideas or impressions," stupid implies a slow-witted or dazed state of mind that may be either congenital or temporary.

stupid students just keeping the seats warm
stupid with drink

When is it sensible to use crass instead of stupid?

The words crass and stupid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crass suggests a grossness of mind precluding discrimination or delicacy.

a crass, materialistic people

When can dense be used instead of stupid?

Although the words dense and stupid have much in common, dense implies a thickheaded imperviousness to ideas.

too dense to take a hint

When is dull a more appropriate choice than stupid?

While in some cases nearly identical to stupid, dull suggests a slow or sluggish mind such as results from disease, depression, or shock.

monotonous work that leaves the mind dull

In what contexts can dumb take the place of stupid?

In some situations, the words dumb and stupid are roughly equivalent. However, dumb applies to an exasperating obtuseness or lack of comprehension.

too dumb to figure out what's going on

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 stupid
Adjective
Absolutely stupid play by Boise State Banks, throwing the QB down after the whistle. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 1 Sep. 2025 Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but what about doctors’ offices giving patients the vaccine themselves? —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
An underrated gem — not enough people have seen this top-tier season — Squirrels Trip has some fabulous vocals, very funny lyrics, a heavy dose of stupid, and an engaging story. —Barry Levitt, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025 People can be high achievers and still knee-walking stupid. —Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 29 Nov. 2022 See All Example Sentences for stupid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stupid
  1. dumb
  2. boring
  3. foolish
  4. slow
  5. tiring
  6. silly
  7. moron
  8. simple
Adjective
  • The reigning Super Bowl champs better hope that’s the dumbest thing that one of their players does this season.
    — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Sometimes, actors play a slightly dumber iteration of themselves; think James Van Der Beek in Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23 and Liam Neeson in Life’s Too Short (a performance that got Neeson cast in this year’s The Naked Gun).
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of dumb
Adjective
  • Farming takes so long and is so boring, some of us said.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The Clark County Fire Department said that tunnel boring operations had been temporarily halted at the site pending an ongoing accident investigation.
    — Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • Grace can be a frustrating protagonist, making foolish, self-sabotaging decisions in pursuit of fleeting pleasure and conditional approval from guys who, frankly, aren’t worth her time.
    — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Placing stock in anything but winning might be foolish, especially given the nature of how the Steelers quarterback operates.
    — James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of foolish
Adjective
  • Biden, who ended his bid for a second White House term 107 days before last year's election, has been relatively slow to move on presidential library planning compared with most of his recent predecessors.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
  • With Parkinson’s, doctors implant electrodes in the brain that produce electrical impulses to disrupt the abnormal signals that cause tremors, stiffness and slow movement.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • Without a strict hierarchy or single decision-maker, our process can sometimes be slow, messy, or even tiring.
    — Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The film is a mess, opaque in its argument and tiring in its effortful weirdness, and yet in its best moments has a hypnotic pull.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of tiring
Adjective
  • Many kids find repeating these phrases satisfying, or silly, or just plain fun to say, Estevez says.
    — ​Wendy Wisner, Parents, 8 Sep. 2025
  • There are no silly games being played.
    — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of silly
Noun
  • Seth Rollins gassed Bron up by saying Jey Uso thinks his dad is a loser and his uncle is a moron.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Definition of moron
Adjective
  • With just a few chairs, a handful of tables and a simple tent, the setting was intimate but filled with love and intention.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • And one of these, for those of us accustomed to British conventions but who follow the game in continental Europe, is the simple passage of time.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Definition of simple

Browse Nearby Words

stupes
stupid
stupidities
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Cite this Entry

“Stupid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stupid. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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