Synonyms of stupid

stupid 1 of 2

adjective

ˈstü-pəd 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dumb
• slow
• simple
• thick
• idiotic
• foolish
• dull
• ignorant
• dense
• silly
• unintelligent
• dopey
• fatuous
• obtuse
• irrational
• insane
• soft
• mad
• unreasonable
• doltish
• boneheaded
• brain-dead
• vacuous
• thickheaded
• mindless
• brainless
• witless
• bonehead
• dorky
• crazy
• senseless
• opaque
• dim
• oafish
• weak-minded
• moronic
• lamebrain
• dunderheaded
• dim-witted
• pinheaded
• empty-headed
• absurd
• gormless
• unsmart
• knuckleheaded
• airheaded
• chuckleheaded
• slow-witted
• half-witted
• softheaded
• lunkheaded
• thick-witted
• bubbleheaded
• fool
• imbecile
• birdbrained
• feebleminded
• simpleminded
• cretinous
• uneducated
• uninformed
• asinine
• unthinking
• illiterate
• illogical
• nonsensical
• unintellectual
• daft
• unwise
• cuckoo
• wacky
• invalid
• zany
• loony
• lowbrow
• preposterous
• untaught
• dippy
• kooky
• nutty
• daffy
• sappy
• fallacious
• harebrained
• screwball
• crackpot
• dotty
• boobish
• half-baked
• cockeyed
• balmy
• tomfool
• featherheaded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brilliant
• smart
• clever
• intelligent
• quick
• bright
• apt
• fast
• sharp
• ingenious
• wise
• keen
• thinking
• nimble
• resourceful
• acute
• knowing
• intellectual
• insightful
• astute
• savvy
• perceptive
• sagacious
• keen
• brainy
• cerebral
• knowledgeable
• learned
• supersmart
• quick-witted
• erudite
• literate
• skilled
• discerning
• sage
• ultrasmart
• informed
• scholarly
• educated
• sharp-witted
• cunning
• reasonable
• shrewd
• trained
• hyperintelligent
• sound
• perspicacious
• sensible
• wily
• valid
• crafty
• logical
• rational
• sane
• prudent
• sapient
• highbrow
• judicious
• percipient
• well-read
• foxy
• schooled

2

as in boring

causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest

I can't believe we sat through the whole stupid movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

• boring
• slow
• tiring
• old
• weary
• dull
• annoying
• wearying
• dusty
• heavy
• irritating
• dry
• tedious
• uninteresting
• tame
• tiresome
• pedestrian
• monotonous
• stodgy
• drab
• ponderous
• wearisome
• dreary
• humdrum
• arid
• colorless
• jejune
• leaden
• stuffy
• stale
• monochromatic
• numbing
• flat
• mind-numbing
• exhausting
• ho-hum
• pallid
• unimaginative
• sterile
• blah
• blank
• drudging
• irksome
• jading
• barren
• spiritless
• gray
• draining
• soggy
• unexciting
• bothersome
• prosaic
• pedantic
• prosy
• uneventful
• inanimate
• dullish
• unrewarding
• unspectacular
• uninspiring
• undramatic
• discouraging
• unsensational
• earthbound
• vapid
• ordinary
• common
• aseptic
• debilitating
• suspenseless
• wearing
• cumbersome
• fatiguing
• pleasureless
• unnewsworthy
• commonplace
• unsurprising
• demoralizing
• disheartening
• longsome
• dispiriting
• unexceptional
• tepid
• enervating
• poky
• plodding
• lumbering
• palling
• enfeebling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• interesting
• intriguing
• involving
• wonderful
• amazing
• surprising
• awesome
• engaging
• spectacular
• exciting
• amusing
• astonishing
• wondrous
• marvelous
• astounding
• engrossing
• riveting
• absorbing
• inspiring
• gripping
• fabulous
• sensational
• entertaining
• breathtaking
• exhilarating
• thrilling
• stimulating
• attractive
• charming
• stirring
• electrifying
• fascinating
• poignant
• moving
• energizing
• alluring
• rousing
• animating
• touching
• enchanting
• beguiling
• attracting
• enthralling
• bewitching
• eye-opening
• provocative
• invigorating
• entrancing
• enlivening
• rip-roaring
• galvanizing
• diverting
• hair-raising
• suspenseful
• tantalizing
• captivating
• mesmerizing
• arresting
• spellbinding

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• foolish
• silly
• absurd
• insane
• mad
• crazy
• idiotic
• dumb
• irrational
• fool
• ridiculous
• lunatic
• unreasonable
• simple
• asinine
• weak
• nonsensical
• daft
• fatuous
• unwise
• wacky
• zany
• loony
• slow
• inept
• brainless
• unreasoning
• witless
• simpleminded
• preposterous
• dippy
• kooky
• nutty
• senseless
• daffy
• sappy
• wacko
• weak-minded
• cuckoo
• gaga
• moronic
• harebrained
• out to lunch
• jerky
• crackbrained
• screwball
• crackpot
• dotty
• loony tunes
• barmy
• batty
• unreasoned
• half-baked
• cockeyed
• dull
• thoughtless
• balmy
• clueless
• half-witted
• tomfool
• imbecile
• lunkheaded
• unintelligent
• bubbleheaded
• illogical
• dopey
• obtuse
• meshuga
• doltish
• featherheaded
• brain-dead
• vacuous
• thickheaded
• mindless
• fruity
• invalid
• ludicrous
• feebleminded
• dense
• lamebrain
• opaque
• dorky
• dunderheaded
• dim
• laughable
• pinheaded
• fallacious
• empty-headed
• oafish
• soft
• thick
• farcical
• gormless
• softheaded
• dim-witted
• unsound
• nonrational
• surd
• knuckleheaded
• airheaded
• chuckleheaded
• clownish
• slow-witted
• buffoonish
• ill-advised
• notional
• birdbrained
• boobish
• unconsidered
• chowderheaded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wise
• sound
• sensible
• prudent
• sane
• intelligent
• clever
• smart
• judicious
• reasonable
• bright
• valid
• logical
• rational
• sagacious
• sage
• sapient
• brainy
• well-advised

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• idiot
• moron
• fool
• dummy
• loser
• prat
• imbecile
• dolt
• know-nothing
• mutt
• dimwit
• ignoramus
• bonehead
• dullard
• jackass
• donkey
• dumbhead
• dunderhead
• simpleton
• blockhead
• dunce
• knucklehead
• goof
• doofus
• dope
• ninny
• chucklehead
• dumb cluck
• jerk
• airhead
• lunkhead
• goon
• pinhead
• nitwit
• numskull
• dork
• hardhead
• lamebrain
• stupe
• cretin
• oaf
• dummkopf
• loon
• half-wit
• bubblehead
• dum-dum
• nimrod
• clown
• cluck
• golem
• meathead
• yahoo
• noddy
• turkey
• clunk
• schnook
• dip
• goose
• deadhead
• dodo
• ninnyhammer
• schlub
• hammerhead
• nincompoop
• thickhead
• chowderhead
• fathead
• ratbag
• dumbbell
• birdbrain
• lump
• noodle
• saphead
• nit
• gander
• villain
• mome
• buffoon
• dim bulb
• stock
• loggerhead
• cuddy
• woodenhead
• loony
• clodpoll
• skunk
• madman
• zany
• clot
• booby
• yo-yo
• snake
• nut
• creep
• beast
• mug
• gawk
• boor
• scatterbrain
• stinker
• cad
• featherbrain
• heel
• cur
• churl

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• genius
• brain
• intellect
• intellectual
• sage
• thinker
• wizard
• whiz
• Renaissance man
• polymath
• sharpie

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

Recent Examples of stupid

Adjective

Shockingly, the letter seems to be pushing for a return to standardized tests by, in effect, arguing that a growing percentage of their students are simply too stupid to succeed, no matter what professors do. — Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Big mistake, though arguably only slightly more stupid than Susan, who stacks the dishwasher cutlery rack with the knives blade up. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026

Noun

Problem is, even people who know baseball don’t know baseball, which makes betting on baseball stupid. — Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026

The scale of the headloss was best summed up by Luis Suarez attempting to reason with Messi, before the Argentine did anything on the Suarez scale of stupid. — Phil Hay, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026