asinine

[ as-uh-nahyn ]

adjective

1. foolish, unintelligent, or silly; stupid:

   It is surprising that supposedly intelligent people can make such asinine statements.

2. of or like an ass:

   asinine obstinacy;

   asinine features.

asinine

/ ˌæsɪˈnɪnɪtɪ; ˈæsɪˌnaɪn /

adjective

1. obstinate or stupid
2. resembling an ass

Derived Forms

• ˈasiˌninely, adverb
• asininity, noun

Other Words From

• asi·ninely adverb
• as·i·nin·i·ty [as-, uh, -, nin, -i-tee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of asinine¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin asinīnus, equivalent to asin(us) ass ¹ + -īnus -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of asinine¹

C16: from Latin asinīnus, from asinus ass ¹

Example Sentences

“Now I don’t know how in the world anything could be more asinine than that,” he said, pointing to numbers indicating that just 37 percent of such workers were getting vaccinated.

From Washington Post

Marijuana prohibition is a dead man walking, but some institutions are so drunk with power that they sit around and cook up asinine arguments about how smoking a J to relieve stress is the same thing as being Barry Bonds.

From The Daily Beast

Alas, what should be a runaway creative success for the game’s director, Josef Fares, is marred by a tone-deaf narrative element which shows that asinine ethnic caricatures unfortunately still exist in video games.

From Washington Post

Is Olivia Pope an “Angry Black Woman,” as one asinine TV critic suggests?

From The Daily Beast

That we find so hallowed and important, but also so asinine and silly?

From The Daily Beast

She hypnotized Cory with her free spirit, freer hair, and asinine name, coaxing him out of his shell and into love with her.

From The Daily Beast

Asinine comments like this leave the President looking like the only mature kid in town.

From The Daily Beast

Funny how the ones deemed “geniuses” always act the most asinine in relationships.

From The Daily Beast

"We are somewhat surprised," he said, knowing it for an asinine remark but afraid to risk his dignity by being plainer.

From Project Gutenberg

Morsfield, entirely objecting to asinine harness with him, mocked at his invocation and intonation of the name of Jove.

From Project Gutenberg

For these patriotic services the members of the asinine assembly are duly acknowledging their gratitude.

From Project Gutenberg

His faith was unshaken—in sheer asinine fatuity it was sublime.

From Project Gutenberg

One of them in particular, who shall be nameless, quite asinine.

From Project Gutenberg

When To Use

What are other ways to say asinine?

The adjective asinine describes things that are foolish or unintelligent, as in asinine remarks. Do you know when to use asinine, fatuous, silly, inane, stupid, and foolish? Find out on Thesaurus.com.