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dullard

dullard

5 7.8
A person who is slow to understand things
  • noun
  • /ˈdʌl.ərd/
  • Offensive
translation icon : idiota
  • The teacher described him as a dullard, unable to grasp the basic concepts of math.

Examples

  • Despite the look of a dullard, Jack, you must be a wise man, and I do respect wisdom.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Without our imaginations... we'd be like all those other poor dullards.

  • And to be honest, we feel you are sort of a dullard.

  • Sir Henry is a pleasant enough dullard.

  • You're actually quite a dullard.

  • For the twentieth time in nine days, I am a happy dullard.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • In reality, I'm an introverted dullard with nothing to say or add to the conversation.

    Blog text (32)
  • Just shows how distant these dullards are from reality.

    Blog text (14)
  • In a universe of security-craving dullards, she's a woman running wild.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Many orchestras have bailed out technically incompetent conductors, whether they be brilliant musicians or musical dullards.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

nitwit
vsdullard
  • Offensive
36 7.9

A person who acts silly and not very smart

is the neutral descriptor for slow understanding rather than playfulness
stupid person
vsdullard
  • Offensive
30 1.1

A person who is not very smart and often makes bad choices

is the neutral term that highlights slow understanding rather than judgment
dolt
vsdullard
  • Offensive
15 8.8

A person who is not very smart or who acts without thinking

is focused on slowness of understanding rather than blunt foolishness
dimwit
vsdullard
  • Offensive
14 7.7

A person who is not very smart

is more about slow comprehension than blunt lack of intelligence
ignoramus
vsdullard
  • Offensive
12 8.3

A person who does not know much

focuses specifically on slow understanding rather than lack of knowledge
numbskull
vsdullard
  • Offensive
8 6.8

A person who is not very smart and often acts without thinking

focuses on slow understanding rather than simple insulting language
numskull
vsdullard
  • Offensive
4 8.9

A person who is very stupid

is milder, focusing on slow grasping rather than deep unintelligence
dunderhead
vsdullard
  • Offensive
3 9.1

A person who often does foolish things or makes simple mistakes

is the contemporary neutral term for slow comprehension rather than archaic wording
lamebrain
vsdullard
  • Offensive
3 9.3

A person who is not very smart

is the sober term for slow understanding instead of slang insult
hammerhead
vsdullard
  • Offensive
3 8.4

A rude word for someone who is not smart

is a milder word concentrating on slow comprehension rather than harshness
dumbo
vsdullard
  • Offensive
2 8.7

A person who is not very smart

is the neutral term for slow comprehension instead of casual mockery
stupid
vsdullard
  • Offensive
1 2.7

A person who is not intelligent and often makes poor choices

is concentrated on slow grasping rather than broad lack of common sense
pillock
vsdullard
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is foolish or silly and makes simple mistakes

is milder, describing slow understanding rather than a harsh insult
knuckle dragger
vsdullard
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person someone insults for being slow or having old-fashioned views

is a neutral label for slow comprehension without social criticism
stupe
vsdullard
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is not very smart

is the neutral general term rather than informal slang
lackwit
vsdullard
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is silly and not very clever

is the modern neutral term for slow comprehension rather than archaic
pudding head
vsdullard
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is not very smart

is the straightforward descriptor for slow understanding rather than playful phrase
dumb cluck
vsdullard
  • Offensive
1 9.8

A person who acts in a silly or foolish way

is a neutral description of slow understanding rather than comic insult
poor fish
vsdullard
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is not very clever and is easy to trick

focuses on slowness to understand rather than gullibility or naivety
1 9.9

A person who is not very quick to understand things

is a plain descriptor for slow understanding rather than joking phrase
simple
vsdullard
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is not very intelligent

is more about slow grasping rather than mild simplicity
noddy
vsdullard
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who behaves in a silly way

is the general neutral word for slow understanding rather than British slang
nar
vsdullard
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who behaves in a silly way

is the standard term for slow understanding rather than casual slang
moper
vsdullard
  • Offensive
9.9

An old word for a person who is foolish or slow to understand

is the current neutral term for slow understanding rather than archaic usage
pudden-head
vsdullard
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who is not very smart

is the neutral description for slow comprehension rather than humorous insult
total nozzer
vsdullard
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who acts very foolishly and cannot do simple tasks

is the milder label for slow understanding rather than extreme incompetence
9.1

Not very quick to understand things

is the neutral term for slow comprehension rather than a joking phrase

Antonyms

252 4.9

A person with very strong intelligence or creative skill

How Intelligent

genius
252 4.9
bright
353 1.2
Joe Average
  • Informal
1 5.2
slow study
  • Slur
7.2
dullard
  • Offensive
5 7.8

Surface Forms

dullard singular
dullards plural

Morphology

dullard = dull (transparent) = dull + ard

Formed by adding the pejorative suffix '-ard' to 'dull', producing a word meaning 'a person characterized by dullness'.

Etymology

Dullard comes from the simple word dull, meaning 'not quick to understand', plus the ending -ard that makes a word for a person, as in drunkard. So a dullard is someone who is 'slow to understand' or who seems 'boring'.