stupid

[stoo-pid, styoo‑] / ˈstu pɪd, ˈstju‑ /

ADJECTIVE

not intelligent; irresponsible

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dull dumb foolish futile ill-advised irrelevant laughable ludicrous naive senseless shortsighted simple trivial

STRONG

dummy loser rash thick unintelligent

WEAK

brainless dazed deficient dense dim doltish dopey gullible half-baked half-witted idiotic imbecilic inane indiscreet insensate meaningless mindless moronic nonsensical obtuse out to lunch pointless puerile simpleminded slow sluggish stolid stupefied thick-headed unthinking witless

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bright careful intelligent prudent reasonable sensible serious sharp smart thoughtful wise

WEAK

cognizant responsible

Usage

What are other ways to say stupid? The adjective 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. Foolish implies a lack of common sense or good judgment or, sometimes, a weakness of mind: a foolish decision; The child seems foolish. 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. 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. 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.

See Examples For:

stupid stupider stupidest

Social media accounts spiked, shirts sold out, match tickets went for stupid money.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

This might sound harsh, but I think that logic is, flatly, stupid.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

To adapt Democratic political consultant James Carville, it’s the policy, stupid.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

He told Sky News he found the whole thing "really stupid" and "annoying" as well as historically inaccurate.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

“I guess the walkie-talkies were a stupid idea,” he mumbled.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

“I was a bit stupider back then,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

“When they need to make stupid stupider, they send me up. I’m part comedian, I’m part activist, I’m part artist. I just want a better society,” Stevens said.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 16, 2024

Other news reports more definitively declared that, yes, ChatGPT is becoming stupider.

From Scientific American ● Aug. 2, 2023

"They will do what he did," Matsson says, referring to Logan, "but they will do it stupider and uglier and less amenable."

From Salon ● May 8, 2023

I’d like to know how she’s done it, this trick with my brother that’s turned him into a stupider, more nervous identical twin of himself.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

“I was like, ‘That is the stupidest looking bait I have ever seen in my life,’” Anaya says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

A cartoon maritime odyssey, powered by what Ricky Wilson called "the stupidest riff you ever heard", it became one of the first independent hits on the American new wave scene, selling more than 20,000 copies.

From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2026

And talking to him in the stupidest voices,

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2025

Some pundits might be calling it “the most important chart in the world,” Perkins said, but in reality, it is closer to “the stupidest chart in the world.”

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2025

“That might have been the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen a human do with a wild animal,” Nicole said.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith

stupid

Usage

Example Sentences

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