featherheaded

8.1

Too silly and not careful about important things

adjective
/ˈfɛðərˌhɛdɪd/

Offensive

: idiota

Don't be so featherheaded about your decisions!

Examples

He's too featherheaded to make serious decisions about his future.
Her featherheaded remarks made everyone laugh, but no one took her seriously.
It was a featherheaded decision to leave his keys in the car overnight.
He can be quite featherheaded when it comes to important matters.
She often makes featherheaded choices when shopping.
I can't believe she bought that outfit; it's such a featherheaded choice.
His featherheaded comments during the meeting frustrated everyone.

Synonyms

foolish

vsfeatherheaded

505 1.3

Not showing good sense and making unwise choices

is more about being thoughtless or careless rather than general lack of sense

harebrained

vsfeatherheaded

Informal

10 8.5

An idea or plan that is very foolish and not well thought out

is more about being silly or thoughtless in general not only reckless plans

boneheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

8 8.0

Very stupid and not thinking clearly

is more about silly carelessness rather than true lack of intelligence

thickheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

4 7.9

Slow to understand simple ideas or instructions

is more about careless foolishness rather than slow comprehension

goosey

vsfeatherheaded

Informal

2 9.8

Silly in a way that shows bad judgment

is more about careless thought rather than playful manner

airheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

1 7.9

Not thinking carefully and often acting silly

is more about being thoughtless or lacking judgment rather than mere frivolity

birdbrained

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

1 8.2

Very silly and not very smart

is more about poor judgment and thoughtlessness rather than low intelligence

flea-brained

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

1 9.8

Being very silly and not serious

is more about lacking judgment and care rather than odd ideas

woolly-headed

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

1 9.1

Confused and unclear in thinking or planning

is more about silly lack of judgment rather than vague confusion

muddleheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

1 9.1

Confused and unable to think clearly

is more about foolish choices and poor judgment rather than mere confusion

blockheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

1 8.3

Not able to think clearly or make good decisions

is more about thoughtless foolishness than basic intellectual failure

fatheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

1 8.8

Not very smart or sensible

is more about being thoughtless or foolish rather than low intelligence

dunderheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

1 7.9

Being very foolish and showing poor judgment

is more about careless thoughtlessness than deep intellectual inability

knuckleheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Informal

1 8.4

Acting in a silly, thoughtless way

is more about poor judgment and irresponsibility not just silliness

featherbrained

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

8.3

Not serious and likely to make bad choices

is more about careless or thoughtless behavior rather than playful lightness

softheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

8.2

Being foolish and not thinking carefully before acting

is more about silly thoughtlessness rather than being easily led

gooselike

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

9.4

Silly and acting in a foolish, awkward way

is more about poor judgment rather than low intelligence

rattlepated

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

9.9

A person who does not think clearly and often forgets simple things

is more about thoughtless silliness rather than mere confusion

rattlebrained

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

9.9

Not able to think clearly and often doing silly things

is more about careless foolishness not just absent focus

puddingheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

9.9

Silly and confused in the way someone thinks

is more about careless foolishness than simple mental confusion

pinheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

7.1

Very foolish and often making bad choices

is more about thoughtless silliness than low inherent intelligence

lunkheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

9.8

Being very foolish and clumsy in how someone thinks or acts

is more about silly poor judgment rather than clumsy behavior

loggerheaded

vsfeatherheaded

Offensive

9.9

Showing very little intelligence or common sense

is more about careless foolishness than true intellectual failure

Antonyms

wise

758 2.1

Showing good judgment from experience

sensible

201 2.7

Showing good judgment and making practical choices

prudent

94 6.2

Being careful and thinking ahead when you make decisions

How Foolish

idiotic

Offensive

115 4.4

foolish

505 1.3

featherheaded

Offensive

8.1

silly

976 1.0

thoughtless

37 4.0

Surface Forms

featherheaded positive

Morphology

featherheaded = feather (semi-transparent) = feather + headed

The formation 'feather-' + '-headed' creates a metaphorical meaning 'light-minded' or 'flighty' that is related to the components but requires a metaphorical extension.

Etymology

Featherheaded comes from feather (a very light part of a bird) and head, so it gives the image of a head so 'light' it cannot think clearly. That's why featherheaded means 'silly' or 'lacking good judgment'.