half-witted

adjective

Definition of half-wittednext
1
as in stupid
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily the young genius mastered calculus while his peers, who seemed half-witted in comparison, labored over basic addition and subtraction

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in foolish
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment had the half-witted idea to try to swim across the raging river, and would have drowned if someone hadn't rescued him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for half-witted
  1. stupid
  2. foolish
  3. dumb
  4. silly
  5. slow
  6. absurd
  7. simple
  8. mad
Adjective
  • So ridiculous the referee initially had trouble believing that anyone could be so reckless & stupid.
    The Athletic UK Staff, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
  • And there was no such thing ever as a bad decision or a stupid question.
    Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 4 Jan. 2025
Definition of stupid
Adjective
  • If the young shortstop is truly as good as gone, the Blue Jays would be foolish not to trade him.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
  • While admirable, the plan to resettle the poor was foolish in retrospect as the Low Country soil is sandy and the weather too hot for farming.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 27 Dec. 2024
Definition of foolish
Adjective
  • Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.
    Daniel Jackson, Allure, 18 July 2017
  • Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.
    Andy Benoit, The MMQB, 10 July 2017
Definition of dumb
Adjective
  • The Couple Next Door The Bottom Line PG-13 partner-swapping upstaged by silly thriller subplots.
    Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
  • In the unreliable reality the older Owen inhabits, his favorite childhood show was in fact silly, sloppy, and decidedly low-stakes.
    Samantha Allen, Them, 14 Jan. 2025
Definition of silly
Adjective
  • Randle has often been slow to close out on 3-point shooters and inattentive off the ball.
    Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
  • The Israel Defense Forces have been slow to withdraw from their position in the southern part of Lebanon despite a Nov. 27 ceasefire deal that gave the Lebanese Army and the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon exclusive jurisdiction over the region.
    Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Jan. 2025
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • Lies, no matter how absurd, gain traction the more they're repeated.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
  • In yet another absurd Elon Musk news story, it's been revealed that people are betting on how many times the owner of X will post on his platform in a week.
    Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 15 Jan. 2025
Definition of absurd
Adjective
  • My top answer is a simple and no-brainer recommendation: Wash your hands with soap and water.
    Amanda Schupak, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Adidas Originals Stan Smith Sneakers These iconic Stan Smith sneakers offer form and function thanks to their simple design, soft leather material (no blisters here!), and roomy fit.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 12 Jan. 2025
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • The elaborate choreography and colorful vision match Vincente Minnelli’s style but underneath carry a delirious energy equal to Ken Russell’s maddest visions of neurotic excess.
    Armond White, National Review, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Everton had many mad weeks under former owner Farhad Moshiri, but this one has rivalled them.
    Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of mad
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near half-witted

half-wits

half-witted

half-wittedness

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Cite this Entry

“Half-witted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/half-witted. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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