Synonyms of turkey

turkey

noun

ˈtər-kē 

1

as in goose

a person who lacks good sense or judgment

only a turkey would think it's a good idea to go for a jog when the weather drops below zero

Synonyms & Similar Words

• goose
• fool
• lunatic
• maniac
• nut
• idiot
• moron
• booby
• cuckoo
• monkey
• loser
• ding-dong
• dingbat
• jackass
• mooncalf
• nincompoop
• ninny
• dipstick
• nutcase
• berk
• ninnyhammer
• simpleton
• git
• simp
• featherhead
• doofus
• charlie
• nitwit
• dummy
• donkey
• ding-a-ling
• half-wit
• nit
• daredevil
• yo-yo
• dumbbell
• gander
• madman
• butt
• imbecile
• ignoramus
• dope
• blockhead
• pinhead
• dodo
• numskull
• stock
• know-nothing
• dolt
• birdbrain
• knucklehead
• dunce
• schnook
• character
• chump
• featherbrain
• goon
• fathead
• dork
• airhead
• crank
• scatterbrain
• schlump
• schlub
• schlemiel
• dupe
• weirdo
• crackpot
• laughingstock
• mockery
• screwball
• codger
• oddball
• kook
• crackbrain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brain
• sage
• thinker
• genius

2

as in idiot

a stupid person

you turkey, that wasn't my boyfriend—it was my brother!

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

3

as in disaster

something that has failed

his business venture ended up being a turkey, and he lost quite a bit of money on it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disaster
• failure
• catastrophe
• bomb
• lemon
• loser
• bust
• disappointment
• flop
• frost
• washout
• mess
• fiasco
• shipwreck
• miss
• dog
• clinker
• debacle
• dud
• has-been
• fizzle
• clunker
• bummer
• hash
• also-ran
• botch
• shambles
• near miss
• nonevent
• muddle
• nonstarter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• success
• winner
• blockbuster
• hit
• smash
• phenomenon
• corker
• crackerjack
• dandy
• jim-dandy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of turkey

It’s called the Golden Spurs Award — given annually to the Campbell family member who shoots the turkey with the biggest spurs. — Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

The links are made from real pork and turkey and surprisingly few other ingredients. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2026

Hanson says that realization led to his support of after-school programs and a decades-long tradition of buying and distributing Thanksgiving turkeys at the Hollenbeck Youth Center in Boyle Heights. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Some of that was due to the outbreak of Avian metapneumovirus in turkeys and chickens and bird flu, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). — Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing turkey

• cold turkey