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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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a stupid question
a dumb question
a silly question
an idiotic question
a foolish question
a lame question
a stupid idea
a dumb idea
an idiotic idea
a bad idea
a terrible idea
a horrible idea
a stupid story
a dumb story
a silly story
a lame story
a bad story
a pointless story
a stupid war
a dumb war
an idiotic war
a foolish war
a senseless war
a pointless war

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

Examples 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
As pointed out with great regularity in my 2018 book The End of Work, there are no lazy people and there are no stupid people. John Tamny, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 Please, please use this instead of that stupid lapel mic everybody holds on TikTok. David Pierce, The Verge, 1 Dec. 2024
Noun
But those options continue to be out of reach for the majority of those who are afflicted with this stupid, infuriating skin condition. Megan McIntyre, refinery29.com, 9 June 2022 Somebody who is dyslexic sometimes has this fear of being perceived as [stupid]. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2022 See all Example Sentences for stupid 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stupid
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
Adjective
  • But to play to that dichotomy is a tightrope walk: lean too far one way and Indy becomes boring, either as too normal or a superhero.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The idea was clear enough, and conceptual artists have been struggling ever since to make works that are not as boring as this one.
    Calvin Tomkins, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • If he can be had for under $10 million a year, the Yankees would be foolish to not pursue that idea.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
  • What a degrading finale for Biden’s feeble, forgettable, frequently foolish presidency.
    Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Wine and conversation flow on a slow tour of the natural vineyards in Spain’s Castilla y León.
    Megan Lloyd, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2024
  • No one knows for sure why the rally happens but some experts attribute it to such seasonal things as holiday shopping and investors wrapping up their books before the end of the year, ahead of a slower January.
    Benzinga, Detroit Free Press, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Popular Nail Polish Colors For Every Month 01 of 08 Short Nails Long nails have undeniably been the most popular nail length for the past five years—or perhaps more—however people seem to be tiring of the upkeep of long nails, no matter if natural or faux.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
  • Parenting can be tiring but any mom or dad will tell you there are moments of magic sprinkled through every bit of the day-to-day grind.
    Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Packed with silly hijinks, this 2004 comedy also stars Kristin Chenoweth and Kristin Davis.
    Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Staff take part in silly skits and showcase rare albums that have not been digitized from the station's giant record collection.
    Meira Gebel, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The equation is simple: The more authoritarianism in the world, the more dissidents.
    Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Pay particular attention to Chapters 8 and 20, where Graham discusses the margin of safety concept and the simple but profound concept that buying a share of stock is actually owning part of a whole business.
    Robert Daugherty, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The show skips across the decades, dramatizing the interviews an older Dolours (Maxine Peake) did for a Boston College oral history of the Troubles, which were taped with the promise that they would be released only after participants’ deaths.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
  • By contrast, the prospect of citizenships and alliances—and perhaps conquests or crusades—structured around the opinions, beliefs, and subjective identities of ordinary people in times of peace would require a new (or very old) conception of empire.
    Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Stupid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stupid. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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