dingbat
Americannoun
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Slang. an eccentric, silly, or empty-headed person.
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Printing. an ornamental piece of type for borders, separators, decorations, etc.
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an object, as a brick, serving as a missile.
noun
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any unnamed object, esp one used as a missile
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a crazy or stupid person
Etymology
Origin of dingbat
First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain
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.
When asked about either of them bring cage-side for the Poirier fight, he replied, "I couldn’t care about them two dingbats."
From Fox News
Sinema may be the egotistical dingbat in this situation, but it's the nation that will pay the price for her hubris.
From Salon
If you thought Trump was an impetuous dingbat before having this disease, wait until you see him after he survives it.
From Salon
On Instagram, where Newton keeps a carefully produced account of his workouts captioned with signature flair in a dingbat font, he recently posted, “This is not about money for me; it’s about respect.”
From New York Times
The Times analysis found that some of the best progress for retrofits was in neighborhoods with the most soft-story apartments, also known as dingbats.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
