simpleton

American  

[sim-puhl-tuhn] / ˈsɪm pəl tən /

noun

Sometimes Offensive.

1. an ignorant, foolish, or silly person.

   Synonyms:

   dope, ninny, blockhead, numbskull, fool, dolt

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simpleton British  

/ ˈsɪmpəltən /

noun

1. a foolish or ignorant person

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Etymology

Origin of simpleton

First recorded in 1640–50; simple + -ton

Explanation

A simpleton is an idiot — a person without much common sense or intelligence. This is one of many words — such as moron, dummy, and dimwit — that insult a person's intelligence. A simpleton is the opposite of a genius. However, the word simple implies more than lack of intelligence; it suggests being innocent or naive too. So a simpleton could be considered a hillbilly or yokel as well as a dullard or dunce.

Example Sentences

Boris’ political foe, the Boyar Prince Shuisky, was the powerful tenor Yevgeny Akimov, who has graduated from singing the Simpleton when Esa-Pekka Salonen conducted a concert performance of “Boris” at the Hollywood Bowl in 2007.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2018

Anthony made his Met debut as the Simpleton in Mussorsky's "Boris Godunov" on March 6, 1954, with George London in the title role.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2012

In a 1942 essay, “Anton Bruckner: Simpleton or Mystic?,” the British critic Geoffrey Sharp adopted Haas’s belief that Bruckner’s apparent personal naïveté was the key to understanding the textual situation.

From New York Times • Jul. 9, 2011

Scholar, Simpleton & Inflation Once again the helm of China's panicky Government was steadied last week by her "Scholar War Lord," the Great Marshal Wu Pei-fu.

From Time Magazine Archive

The young toad brought the box and the fat toad opened it and gave Simpleton a carpet from it, so beautiful and so fine as up above on the earth could not have been woven.

From Hidden Symbolism of Alchemy and the Occult Arts by Jelliffe, Smith Ely