dumb 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdəm How to pronounce dumb (audio)
Definition of dumbnext
1
as in stupid
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily don't call him dumb just because he makes the occasional mistake like the rest of us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reserved
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination) he prefers to remain dumb, and replies in monosyllables if really pressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dumb

2 of 2

verb

as in to mute
to stop the noise or speech of the terrible news dumbed her for a long moment, and then she burst into tears

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dumb contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dumb are crass, dense, dull, and stupid. While all these words mean "lacking in power to absorb ideas or impressions," dumb applies to an exasperating obtuseness or lack of comprehension.

too dumb to figure out what's going on

When would crass be a good substitute for dumb?

While in some cases nearly identical to dumb, crass suggests a grossness of mind precluding discrimination or delicacy.

a crass, materialistic people

Where would dense be a reasonable alternative to dumb?

The synonyms dense and dumb are sometimes interchangeable, but dense implies a thickheaded imperviousness to ideas.

too dense to take a hint

In what contexts can dull take the place of dumb?

Although the words dull and dumb have much in common, dull suggests a slow or sluggish mind such as results from disease, depression, or shock.

monotonous work that leaves the mind dull

When is stupid a more appropriate choice than dumb?

While the synonyms stupid and dumb are close in meaning, 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

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 dumb
Adjective
For the young generation of digital natives navigating AI anxiety around keeping up with peers using the technology and AI displacing them from jobs, the fear of the technology making people dumber is dominant. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026 This lens helps explain everything from investing mistakes and overspending to why some people quietly build wealth while others blow money in ways that, from the outside, look spectacularly dumb. —Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Are Rory and Cobby dumb enough to believe that Mr. Besegai’s goons (including Paul Walter Hauser) were dispatched to help them rather than to tie up loose ends? —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 1 Aug. 2024 This includes throwing out 31 of 47 runners dumb enough to run on him in 2022. —James Yasko, Chron, 24 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for dumb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dumb
  1. stupid
  2. reserved
  3. mute
  4. slow
  5. restrained
  6. shush
  7. simple
  8. quiet
Adjective
  • But maybe Johnson isn’t stupid.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Such as the one where the candidate remarked that some white rural Americans were stupid and racist.
    — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of stupid
Adjective
  • Seconds later, there was our reserved little boy, jumping his heart out next to a group of six-foot-something Maasai warriors.
    — Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Together, the three developments will bring 378 apartments to Nampa, nearly all reserved for tenants earning 60% or less of the Boise metro’s area median income.
    — Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of reserved
Verb
  • The actors’ interactions are charged, but the slow burn of Brontë’s characters’ hatred and yearning is muted.
    — Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
  • So for anyone who’s struggling to create that distance, Jeter suggests starting small and committing to just one month of no direct communication—along with blocking or muting them online.
    — Jenna Ryu, SELF, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of mute
Adjective
  • That builds on similar trends throughout 2025, when the industry buoyed an otherwise slow labor market, as the nation’s hospitals, clinics and nursing homes kept hiring even as many employers pulled back.
    — Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Any type of realism was [limited to] very short clips, everything was very slow, bad textures, no skin textures, lacking detail.
    — Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • On the street, the Mazda3 hatchback carries itself with a restrained yet purposeful elegance.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Arnold’s Heathcliff is much more fully developed as a character, in part due to the more restrained performances and Arnold’s highly sensory style.
    — Cazzie David, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of restrained
Verb
  • Some shushed the crowds, urging them to be silent and reverent.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Levy sat on the floor, watching like a proud father and shushing whisperers.
    — Jane Bua, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of shush
Adjective
  • Feltner’s routine was pretty simple.
    — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Crime 101 takes the same view of quid pro quo as the most basic form of American commerce and makes simple but brutal points about value and self-worth, where your car, its year, make and model, matters more than your resumé.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of simple
Verb
  • Kimmel quotes from one popular manual, published in 1916, that advised quieting a crying baby by flipping it over and administering a vigorous spanking.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Arrange a tender ceremony After the explosion of color and dancing that was the mehndi, the couple quieted things down for their wedding ceremony, which was purposefully and carefully organized not to be tied to any one religion or culture.
    — Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of quiet

Browse Nearby Words

duly
dumb
dumbbell
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dumb. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on dumb

Nglish: Translation of dumb for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

What does 'etcetera' mean?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?

Why Is the Letter ‘Z’ Associated With Sleeping?

The Words of the Week - Feb. 13

Why do we call it 'ides of March'?
See More

Popular

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All