Definition of witlessnext
1
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily a dog so witless that it is barely trainable

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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 witless Gavras and Arbery may have other, more singular aims in mind, hidden beneath all the obvious skewering of witless wealth. Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025 Austin doesn't even seem to register his witless neighbor's lack of social skills until Craig punches his lights out—supposedly in fun—during a guys' night get-together. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 9 May 2025 Witherspoon’s timing is whip-crack good, and Ferrell’s is, too, on a different wavelength, even when the material’s settling for surprisingly witless profanity punchlines that don’t quiiiiite qualify as actual jokes. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025 But this latest effort, premiering on Prime Video, proves a relentlessly vulgar and witless affair that not even the talents of stars Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon and a comedically gifted supporting cast can rescue. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for witless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for witless
Adjective
  • That’s why we are drawn to do some of the dumber stuff when things get to their darkest.
    Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
  • Mandylor is equally hilarious as a dumb thug who is so deserving of becoming shark bait.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 July 2026
Adjective
  • Parametric modeling, especially when weighted down with decades of AutoCAD’s stupid UI/UX choices, was even harder than programming.
    Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026
  • The simplest explanation is that Vance believes his voters are stupid.
    David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
Adjective
  • The slow pace continued for a while, but eventually, Punk took down Rhodes with a leaping heel kick and tweaked his knee.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Long days were spent cleaning, drawing and waiting for customers during slow periods, all while mastering a craft that permanently alters another person’s body.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Drawing definitive conclusions from pre-season is foolish — but Lacey has shown his close control, pace, and scored an excellent goal in the previous friendly against Rosenborg.
    Cerys Jones, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Johnson continued this week to push for his foolish and counterproductive desire to impose a $33-per-month tax on each Chicago job generated by the city’s largest private-sector employers.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
Adjective
  • Abernathy Greenway Park walk with Trees Atlanta Take a walk through the park with a Trees Atlanta docent, who will teach simple tricks for telling trees apart and share stories about why trees are important and how to protect them.
    Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The Oldest Person in the World takes an ostensibly simple premise and explores its deeper resonance.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Kind of a silly riddle, but what’s life if not a little silly.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • Ranking titanic figures from different eras might be a fruitless and silly exercise to some, but this type of debate is also the one thing sports is supposed to be.
    Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Adjective
  • Only those stubbornly ignorant to the human cost of actual combat would be psyched to bring on more of it.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Every coach who loves God, loves this country and wants to protect women needs to speak out against coaches who are that ignorant.
    Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The show explores the darkly absurd side of modern-day male friendship.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Just absurd, and all happening in his first full season in the majors.
    Matt Piper, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Witless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/witless. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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