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Definitions

fatuous

[fach-oo-uhs] / ˈfætʃ u əs /


Usage

What are other ways to say fatuous? The adjective fatuous implies being not only foolish, dull, and vacant in mind, but complacent and highly self-satisfied as well: fatuous and self-important; fatuous answers. Foolish implies a lack of common sense or good judgment or, sometimes, a weakness of mind: a foolish decision; The child seems foolish. Silly denotes extreme and conspicuous foolishness; it may also refer to pointlessness of jokes, remarks, etc.: silly and senseless behavior; a perfectly silly statement. Inane applies to silliness that is notably lacking in content, sense, or point: inane questions that leave one with no reply. Stupid implies natural slowness or dullness of intellect, or, sometimes, a benumbed or dazed state of mind; it is also used to mean foolish or silly: He was rendered stupid by a blow; It is stupid to do such a thing. Asinine originally meant like an ass; it applies to witlessly stupid conversations or conduct and suggests a lack of social grace or perception: He failed to notice the reaction to his asinine remarks.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“It sounds so fatuous, but it needs to be a real thing. And if it’s not, people will know it. You can’t lie.”

From Salon • May 15, 2026

You’d be unwise to look to the movies for economic insight—this one amounts to an extended fatuous argument that an individual who behaved like a corporate restructuring would be a psychopath.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

On Monday, he repeated the fatuous nonsense he's spewed for ages:

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2025

The writing, however, has none of Anderson’s wit, tending instead toward a kind of broad and fatuous slapstick that’s closer to “2 Broke Girls” than “The Royal Tenenbaums.”

From New York Times • Jun. 22, 2023

I wish I could remember more of what was said that day—actually, I do remember much of what I said, most of it too fatuous for me to recall with pleasure.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt




Vocabulary lists containing fatuous


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