dolt
Americannoun
-
dolts
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of dolt
First recorded in 1535–45; variant of obsolete dold “stupid,” originally past participle of Middle English dollen, dullen “to dull”; see dull
Explanation
Dolt refers to a person who isn't very smart. You might be called a dolt if you do something dumb, like stand outside your car complaining that you locked your keys inside — even though the window is wide open. Let's be honest — you never want to be called a dolt. And if you're a kind person, you'll never call anyone else a dolt — unless they do something so frustratingly stupid that you can't take it anymore. Dolt probably came from the Middle English word dullen, meaning "to dull, make or become dazed or stupid." To help remember what dolt means, say it out loud, with gusto. With its guttural sound, the word itself sounds not very bright.
Vocabulary lists containing dolt
We Are Not Free
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Son of Neptune
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Now I can sense more than a few people calling me a dolt.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 10, 2022
There’s the thief and his dolt of a sidekick, ironically nicknamed “the Brain”; a newly arrived doctor faced with a daily parade of petty hypochondriacs; and a barber who doubles as a D.I.Y. dentist.
From New York Times ● Jul. 30, 2021
Sadly, Jules Rivera, the new illustrator of this Americana classic, has transformed Mark into a hapless dolt bumbling through a landscape of insipid sketches resembling old “Archie” comics.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 23, 2020
The central protagonist of the royalty portion of this upstairs-downstairs comedy is the type of clueless, privileged dolt we've seen a thousand times before.
From Salon ● Jan. 28, 2020
He still felt like a dolt, but he preferred not to dwell on the feeling.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
But naturally the actors are not portraying them in the guise of the movie’s endearing dolts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2025
The wives’ decision to journey to Lourdes is met with great resistance by their husbands, all of whom are portrayed as clueless dolts.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 13, 2023
Well, these dolts are almost certainly going to get their wish: it’s hard to imagine that the SEC continues with just eight conference games once Texas and Oklahoma enter the fold.
From Fox News ● Aug. 12, 2021
Instead, he presents them as borderline dolts, barely functioning adults defined by behavioral quirks and psychological soft spots.
From New York Times ● Jan. 25, 2018
Never before had I seen my family as such half-wits, such hayseeds, such dolts.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
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.
