1
as in hulk
a big clumsy often slow-witted person
it's not polite to call your brother a stupid oaf
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in idiot
a stupid person
anyone who took him for an oaf and tried to cheat him would be in for a nasty surprise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 oaf
Buck is a loquacious, glad-handing oaf who has a boring way with a witty story, and is marked for death.
—
Fred Schruers,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2025
As women have enjoyed more economic opportunities, they’re less often forced to marry some oaf who gets violent after a few drinks — and, anyway, what self-respecting woman with independent means would want to marry, say, a fan of Andrew Tate?
—
Nicholas Kristof,
The Mercury News,
2 Apr. 2024
However, the main resident of the island where the adventure takes place is — surprise, surprise — the large and lethargic blueish oaf known as Snorlax.
—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
7 July 2023
Curry in particular is well known for portraying villains (It, Ferngully, The Rocky Horror Picture Show), but doesn't always strike the right balance as the loveable patriarchal oaf.
—
Lee Escobedo,
EW.com,
7 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for oaf
Fred Schruers,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2025
As women have enjoyed more economic opportunities, they’re less often forced to marry some oaf who gets violent after a few drinks — and, anyway, what self-respecting woman with independent means would want to marry, say, a fan of Andrew Tate?
—
Nicholas Kristof,
The Mercury News,
2 Apr. 2024
However, the main resident of the island where the adventure takes place is — surprise, surprise — the large and lethargic blueish oaf known as Snorlax.
—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
7 July 2023
Curry in particular is well known for portraying villains (It, Ferngully, The Rocky Horror Picture Show), but doesn't always strike the right balance as the loveable patriarchal oaf.
—
Lee Escobedo,
EW.com,
7 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for oaf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oaf
Noun
-
When Krem takes off in Kara’s spacecraft, a rusted hulk that’s like an interplanetary RV, and shoots her beloved dog Krypto with a lethal tranquilizer that will result in agonizing death in three days, Kara joins Ruthye on her revenge quest.
-
The hulk has made it to the Seaport once — in September 2024 when it was towed to Pier 17 for a Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Week event.
Noun
-
Mantzoukas was willing to look like a maniac and a moron in equal measure.
-
Lluís then calls Puig Antich a moron.
Noun
-
The losers are the automakers still leaving accessories to the dealer, where the margin quietly bleeds away.
-
That is a big risk investors take when trying to find the winners and losers within the biotech sector.
Noun
-
My dad has always said the lottery is a tax on the stupid.
-
Problem is, even people who know baseball don’t know baseball, which makes betting on baseball stupid.
Noun
-
Pastas, all made in house, are a solid choice too—like the Squid Ink Orecchiette with lump crab.
-
Stocklas was retired by the time of his Powerball win, which netted a lump-sum payment of $191 million.
Noun
-
There are big box store flash mobs, horses, prat falls and, of course, lots and lots of screaming.
Noun
-
The league’s most popular player has become its biggest lout.
-
Suddenly, these two louts are forced to support themselves for the first time.
Noun
-
The cannister featured an image of an angry mutt with saliva dripping from its jaws.
-
Not that hard to leave the little mutts at home for the grocery store trip.
Cite this Entry
“Oaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oaf. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
