stupid

[stoo-pid, styoo‑]

adjective

stupider, stupidest 

1. lacking ordinary quickness and keenness of mind; slow-witted.

2. characterized by or proceeding from mental dullness; foolish; senseless.

   Sorry for asking a stupid question, but why is the answer four instead of five?

3. tediously boring, especially due to lack of meaning or sense; inane; pointless.

   He wished he'd never come to such a stupid party.

4. annoying or irritating; troublesome.

   Turn off that stupid radio.

5. in a state of stupor; stupefied.

   After a twelve-hour work day, she was stupid from fatigue.

6. Slang.,  excellent; terrific.

noun

1. Informal.,  a stupid person.

stupid

/ ˈstjuːpɪd /

adjective

1. lacking in common sense, perception, or normal intelligence

2. (usually postpositive) stunned, dazed, or stupefied

   stupid from lack of sleep

3. having dull mental responses; slow-witted

4. trivial, silly, or frivolous

noun

1. informal,  a stupid person

Confusables Note

Stupid, ignorant, and unintelligent are all used to refer to people or things that seem to show a lack of mental resources. Stupid is the most general and most insulting term, and can describe someone lacking in intelligence, wisdom, prudence, or mental quickness. Unintelligent refers to people or things that are lacking in capacity for learning, reasoning, or understanding. Ignorant, by contrast, generally means lacking in knowledge (not necessarily lacking in intelligence).

Other Word Forms

• stupidly adverb
• stupidness noun
• unstupid adjective
• unstupidly adverb
• unstupidness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stupid¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin stupidus, equivalent to stup(ēre) “to be numb, to be stunned” + -idus -id ⁴ ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of stupid¹

C16: from French stupide, from Latin stupidus silly, from stupēre to be amazed

Synonym Study

See dull.

Example Sentences

In August, USA Today reported that ICE sent an email solicitation to deputies nationwide, leading the head of the National Sheriff’s Assn. to call the move “either galactically stupid or purposefully malicious.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Do I want to sacrifice that relationship for some stupid tweet, or some in-the-moment anger?” he asked.

From Los Angeles Times

Groom took issue with screenwriter Eric Roth’s rewrite of his book’s line about chocolates, but another “Forrest Gump” catchphrase the screenwriter originated himself is more appropriate today than ever: “Stupid is as stupid does.”

From Salon

He took aim at what he said were "stupid people" – a group that includes some on the political right.

From BBC

But people still get angry in my comments just cause I make stupid jokes — I don’t understand it.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dull 
• dumb 
• foolish 
• futile 
• ill-advised 
• irrelevant 
• laughable 
• ludicrous 
• naive 
• senseless 
• shortsighted 
• simple 
• trivial 

When To Use

What are other ways to say stupid?

The adjective stupid describes things characterized or proceeding from mental dullness. Do you know when to use stupid, fatuous, silly, inane, foolish, and asinine? Find out on Thesaurus.com.