witless

[ wit-lis ]

adjective

1. lacking wit or intelligence; stupid; foolish.

witless

/ ˈwɪtlɪs /

adjective

1. lacking wit, intelligence, or sense; stupid

Derived Forms

• ˈwitlessly, adverb
• ˈwitlessness, noun

Other Words From

• witless·ly adverb
• witless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of witless¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English witlēas. See wit ¹, -less

Example Sentences

At its most pejorative, the term describes a uniquely disposable kind of young gay man: Hairless, guileless, witless.

From The Daily Beast

Because these questions are never addressed, the characters seem witless, flat, and mean.

From The Daily Beast

Sorry, but the endless apologies from hapless celebrities and witless pundits add up to a big zero.

From The Daily Beast

The Norns' decree thou wilt hold in contempt as from a witless wight: In water thou shalt be drowned, if in wind thou rowest.

From Project Gutenberg

Dost thou deem me so witless as not to know that if she had sent thee hither thou wouldst not have come in this plight?

From Project Gutenberg

But sure, we might have writ a letter about ye an' carried it out to Witless Bay.

From Project Gutenberg

Any little accident might do it if they knew that he was on his way to Witless Bay.

From Project Gutenberg

From the witless, nameless unit of a whaler's crew he had at last arisen to a fresh identity.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dumb
• half-baked
• kooky
• moronic
• wacky
• zany