16 Other Ways to Say STUPID | Stupid Synonyms (Examples)

Stupid is a word often used when someone makes a bad choice, does something silly, or acts without thinking. However, there are many other words that can replace it, such as foolish, dumb, or silly. Using different words makes conversations more interesting and colorful. In this article, you will discover 16 other ways to say stupid with easy examples.

Synonyms	Example
Foolish	It was foolish to forget the keys at home.
Dumb	He felt dumb after giving the wrong answer.
Silly	She made a silly mistake on the test.
Absurd	The idea of flying without wings is absurd.
Ridiculous	His excuse for being late was ridiculous.
Unwise	It was unwise to spend all the money.
Nonsense	The story he told sounded like nonsense.
Brainless	He made a brainless comment in the meeting.
Idiotic	That was an idiotic thing to say.
Simple-minded	He acted like a simple-minded person.
Dense	She can be so dense about jokes sometimes.
Mindless	The movie was full of mindless action.
Witless	His witless answer made everyone laugh.
Clueless	She is clueless about fixing cars.
Numbskull	Stop acting like a numbskull and listen.
Dopey	He looked dopey after staying up all night.

16 Different Ways to Say STUPID: Another Word for STUPID

Foolish

Foolish means showing poor judgment or making choices that are not smart. It can also mean behaving in a silly way without thinking about the results. Many people sometimes act foolish when they rush or ignore advice. This word can sound softer than stupid, and it is often used to describe small mistakes or funny behavior.

It was foolish to leave the door unlocked.
She felt foolish for forgetting her homework.
His foolish plan did not work.
They laughed at their foolish game.
It would be foolish to trust a liar.
The dog made a foolish jump into the pool.

Dumb

Dumb is often used to mean not smart, silly, or lacking sense. Long ago, it meant unable to speak, but now it is commonly used for actions that seem without thought. People may say they feel dumb after making mistakes. It can sound rude if used for a person, but it is very common in daily talk.

He made a dumb mistake at work.
I felt dumb when I dropped my phone.
That was a dumb idea from the start.
The game had a dumb ending.
Don’t say dumb things in class.
She looked dumb when she forgot her lines.

Silly

Silly is a softer word that often means playful, funny, or light-minded. Sometimes it also means not very smart or a bit childish. People often use silly when they want to describe mistakes that are not too serious. It is less harsh than stupid and can even sound cute when talking about children.

She made a silly mistake on her homework.
The kids were acting silly in the park.
His silly joke made everyone laugh.
Don’t be silly, you are smart.
It was silly to forget the time.
They laughed at his silly dance.

Absurd

Absurd means something that is totally unreasonable or not logical. It can sound stronger than silly, because it often describes ideas or actions that make no sense at all. People may use absurd when talking about wild stories, strange plans, or ridiculous excuses. It shows disbelief or surprise at how strange something is.

The idea of cats driving cars is absurd.
His excuse was absurd and nobody believed it.
It is absurd to waste money on nonsense.
They laughed at the absurd story.
That plan sounds absurd to me.
It is absurd to think the earth is flat.

Ridiculous

Ridiculous is a very common word for things that sound too strange, funny, or stupid. People use it when something is so unreasonable that it seems laughable. It often describes situations, excuses, or actions that are far from smart. Using ridiculous can sometimes add humor, because it shows how silly something appears.

His story was ridiculous from the start.
She wore a ridiculous hat to the party.
That excuse is ridiculous.
They laughed at his ridiculous dance moves.
It would be ridiculous to believe that lie.
The price of that shirt is ridiculous.

Unwise

Unwise means not smart or not careful. It is often used for choices or decisions that may lead to problems. Unlike silly or dumb, unwise sounds more serious and is usually connected with planning or thinking. If someone makes an unwise choice, it often means they did not look at the risks properly.

It was unwise to walk alone at night.
Spending all the money was unwise.
His unwise comment upset everyone.
They made an unwise choice.
She realized it was unwise to argue.
It is unwise to ignore health problems.

Nonsense

Nonsense means something that does not make sense or has no meaning. People use it when a statement, plan, or idea sounds silly or foolish. It can also mean silly behavior. Nonsense is a softer way to call something stupid, because it targets the idea, not the person.

His excuse was nonsense.
Stop talking nonsense, please.
That plan is complete nonsense.
She laughed at his nonsense story.
Don’t waste time on nonsense.
The movie was full of nonsense scenes.

Brainless

Brainless is used when something seems to be done without any thinking at all. It sounds harsher than silly, because it directly points to a lack of thought or sense. People use brainless for actions that are careless, reckless, or just plain dumb. It is not a polite word, but it is very expressive.

That was a brainless move.
He gave a brainless answer in class.
She called it a brainless idea.
The brainless act caused problems.
His brainless driving scared everyone.
Don’t do brainless things again.

Idiotic

Idiotic is another strong word for something very stupid or foolish. It comes from the word idiot, which is very insulting, so idiotic also carries a strong negative feeling. People use it when they are very annoyed by an action or decision. It is stronger than silly and can sound angry.

That was an idiotic thing to say.
His idiotic mistake cost a lot.
She laughed at his idiotic dance.
Don’t make idiotic choices.
The movie had an idiotic ending.
His idiotic plan failed quickly.

Simple-minded

Simple-minded means someone who does not think deeply or does not understand complex ideas. It does not always mean bad; sometimes it can describe someone who is innocent. However, it is often used to describe people who act without much thought, almost childlike. It is a softer way to show someone lacks deep thinking.

He acted like a simple-minded child.
Her simple-minded idea made people smile.
They saw him as simple-minded.
Simple-minded people trust too easily.
His answer sounded simple-minded.
She gave a simple-minded laugh.

Dense

Dense is often used to say someone is slow to understand things. It does not mean they cannot learn, but it suggests they need more time or are not paying attention. People sometimes use dense in a joking way when someone misses the point. It can be playful or insulting, depending on tone.

She is dense about jokes.
Don’t be so dense, listen carefully.
His dense answer made people laugh.
They called him dense after the mistake.
She looked dense when confused.
He was too dense to notice.

Mindless

Mindless means doing something without thinking or care. It often describes actions that are automatic, silly, or not smart. People may also use it for boring things that do not need much thought, like mindless work or mindless entertainment. It connects closely with the idea of stupid behavior.

That was a mindless mistake.
He made a mindless comment.
The movie was full of mindless fights.
Don’t do mindless actions.
She wasted time on mindless games.
His mindless plan failed.

Witless

Witless means lacking sense or good judgment. It is another way to say stupid, but it can sound more formal or old-fashioned. Still, it shows that someone is not thinking smartly or wisely. Witless is often used to describe comments, choices, or behavior that lacks intelligence.

His witless idea failed.
She made a witless comment.
The witless joke upset people.
Don’t be witless, think first.
His witless actions caused trouble.
They laughed at the witless remark.

Clueless

Clueless is a very common word used when someone has no knowledge or understanding about something. It can sound funny and playful, but it still means the person does not know what to do. People use it for everyday life when someone seems lost or confused.

She is clueless about math.
He looked clueless during the test.
Don’t be clueless, ask for help.
His clueless answer was wrong.
They were clueless about the rules.
She stayed clueless about the problem.

Numbskull

Numbskull is a funny word that means a person who acts very foolish or silly. It is not very polite, but it is often used in a joking way among friends. It directly calls someone not smart, but sometimes it makes people laugh because the word itself sounds humorous.

Stop acting like a numbskull.
He is such a numbskull sometimes.
Don’t be a numbskull, listen.
They called him a numbskull after the mistake.
His numbskull plan failed.
She laughed at the numbskull joke.

Dopey

Dopey means slow, silly, or not very sharp. It can also mean looking sleepy or confused. People often use it when someone is acting silly in a funny way. Dopey is softer and less harsh than stupid, and it can even sound cute in some cases, especially with children.

He looked dopey after staying awake all night.
The child made a dopey face.
She gave a dopey answer.
His dopey laugh was funny.
They thought he was acting dopey.
Don’t be dopey, pay attention.

Final Thoughts

There are many different ways to say stupid, and each one has its own feeling and style. Some are softer like silly or dopey, while others are stronger like idiotic or brainless. Choosing the right word can change the meaning and tone of what you want to say. Words give more colors to your ideas.