adjective
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obstinate or stupid
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resembling an ass
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of asinine
First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin asinīnus, equivalent to asin(us) ass 1 + -īnus -ine 1
Explanation
Anything that's asinine is truly stupid or foolish. Your brother might love a ridiculous reality TV show, while you find it completely asinine. Asinine derives from the Latin asinus, which means "stupid," but also "like an ass or donkey." Asinine behavior isn't simply dumb, but is as obstinate and lacking in judgement as a stubborn donkey. It would be foolish if your friend spray-painted graffiti on the neighbor's garage door, but it would be asinine if he also signed his name.
Vocabulary lists containing asinine
A Lexical Zoo of Animal Adjectives
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Grade 11, List 6
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Dear Martin
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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.
In the criminally short-lived series, Van Der Beek played a version of himself that was far more asinine and haughty than the actor was known to be in real life.
From Salon • Feb. 15, 2026
Though Tesla’s board shouted down a Wall Street Journal report this spring that it had looked into finding a successor for Musk, it would be asinine not to poke around.
From Slate • Jul. 8, 2025
The story struck the FBI as asinine — agents just did not act that way — but could it be disproved?
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2025
I smiled politely; I found the remark asinine; I resolved to work it into conversation as soon as possible.
From New York Times • Nov. 23, 2024
"No more school!" said Bruno, grinning a broad and asinine mouse-grin.
From "The Witches" by Roald Dahl
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.
