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

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
Clark is in her second WNBA season, and the rhetoric behind the most popular player in the league has crossed into the criminally stupid. Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2025 There’s more stupid romance around harder substances but few chemicals are more hazardous to ambition than THC. Benjamin Hale june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Noun
People can be high achievers and still knee-walking stupid. Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 29 Nov. 2022 It is described as a stupid-kids-in-the-woods story with a wry twist. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 20 Sep. 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
  • The main reason Jacksonville is so boring, FinanceBuzz found, is that much of its population is thinly scattered across the city.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
  • GoPro has also dropped a white version and a forest green version if black is too boring for you.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Marlins would be foolish to trade away an ace with affordable team control at his lowest value ever.
    Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
  • Schulman’s characters make enough foolish and self-indulgent choices to fill a volume twice the size of this slim one.
    Book Marks July 11, Literary Hub, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Skin Conditions Dry, itchy skin, and wounds or cuts that are slow to heal can be a sign of hyperglycemia.
    Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 15 July 2025
  • Without automation, errors are common and reimbursement is slow.
    Duke Chung, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Dickinson led off the semifinal game and roped a double off his metal bat that Smith said woke him up from a long, tiring day.
    Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 8 July 2025
  • After a tiring day walking around the parks, the most relaxing, soothing and healing experience is to sit out on the decks of the treehouse.
    Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • This perky, self-aware, sarcastic and downright silly show caters to both the more traditional Goodspeed audiences.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2025
  • Green Lantern is earnest and bright and, yeah, incredibly silly and a little embarrassing.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • While in many ways, this flat 33km time-trial is simple, particularly in its middle section, there is still plenty to watch out for.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • The duo’s aim is simple: to help foster the next wave of podcasting talent, beyond the public figures and influencers who tend to dominate headlines.
    Essence, Essence, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Cape Florida Light The Cape Florida Light, in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on the tip of Key Biscayne, is the oldest lighthouse in the state.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 11 July 2025
  • Patrick O’Connor, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, told AP this may be Denver’s deepest and oldest find yet.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 11 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stupid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stupid. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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