stupid 1 of 2

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

stupid

2 of 2

noun

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
Speaking of which, the sequence following the discovery of Nicky’s corpse is perhaps the stupidest in the entire series. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Old fogey-ish, ungrateful and stupid. Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 10 Sep. 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
Adjective
  • Napier got a one-year honeymoon until a Week 1 loss at Utah in 2023, the year when the Gators committed a silly amount of dumb penalties (including the original instance of two guys wearing the same jersey).
    Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
  • 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
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
Adjective
  • But giving someone as historically great as Derrick Henry added motivation, certainly may prove to be a foolish decision from Delpit.
    Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • There’s highly capable support in the cast from the unfailingly superb Vázquez, emanating gravitas, humanity and barely contained anger at the increasing frequency and spread of wildfires and the foolish refusal of those in power to address the growing threat.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • During the prelims in Tokyo, Seville had a concerning slow reaction to the starting gun.
    Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Parisian servers may have an undeserved reputation for being slow, but instead of complaining or searching for faster service elsewhere, settle in with a book or newspaper.
    Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
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
Adjective
  • Mea Culpa is Perry at his most knowingly silly, and a throwback to erotic thrillers of decades past.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Sep. 2025
  • For every community of mass-shooter fandoms, there is another that is silly, joyous, productive, or totally harmless.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
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
Adjective
  • Their simple plan goes awry when one of their relatives wants a posh Korean wedding banquet in the heartfelt romantic comedy.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The inspiration The Copleys wanted a low-water garden that would be simple to care for.
    Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stupid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stupid. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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