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idiocy

idiocy

32 8.0
Very stupid or foolish behaviour often seen as offensive
  • noun
  • /ˈɪdiəsi/
  • Offensive
: idiotez
  • He couldn't understand the idiocy of their plan to invest in failing businesses.
  • public idiocy
  • divine idiocy

I've had it with the idiocy of a percentage of the American public.

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Examples

  • The idiocy of their laws shall not stop me.

  • You represent the idiocy of today.

  • Like, I had this professor who used to go on and on... about the idiocy of video games.

  • Bad stuff comes when you open the door to idiocy, and this most definitely is idiocy.

    Blog text (2)
  • She's showing signs of idiocy, which is a bigger problem.

  • I've had it with the idiocy of a percentage of the American public.

  • "I shared his views on the idiocy of criminalizing cannabis."

    Fiction book (1996)
  • I can't let these kids suffer because of someone else's idiocy.

  • Republicans desperate for a story create one of idiocy; Romney gets nailed in a lie.

    Blog text (5)
  • I don't think it's idiocy to talk about fidelity and monogamy...

Synonyms

folly
vsidiocy
60 7.3

A foolish action or a lack of good sense that causes trouble

is stronger, implying very low mental capacity rather than a simple mistake
foolishness
vsidiocy
50 2.7

A lack of good sense or careful thought that causes bad choices

applies more intensely, indicating very low overall mental ability
lunacy
vsidiocy
18 7.5

Extremely foolish behavior that shows very poor judgment

is similar but focuses on profound mental deficiency rather than temporary madness
stupidity
vsidiocy
12 3.4

A foolish action that shows poor judgment

denotes a deep, general mental deficiency rather than a single poor act
inanity
vsidiocy
4 9.5

A state of being very silly and without any real meaning

is closer to severe mental deficiency rather than mere lack of sense or meaning
dumbness
vsidiocy
  • Offensive
3 6.2

A state of not understanding things quickly

implies a deeper, more extreme lack of intelligence beyond simple slowness
asininity
vsidiocy
  • Offensive
1 9.9

The state of being very foolish in a stubborn way

is similar but labels the most extreme mental deficiency rather than mere stubbornness
witlessness
vsidiocy
  • Offensive
1 7.9

A lack of cleverness or quick thinking

stresses an extreme and insulting level of mental deficiency rather than mere slowness
unintelligence
vsidiocy
1 8.2

Low mental ability to think clearly or learn

is stronger by emphasizing extreme and insulting deficiency rather than plain lack
dimwittedness
vsidiocy
  • Offensive
1 7.7

A quality of being slow to understand and making simple mistakes

is more severe, describing overall very low intelligence rather than slowness

Antonyms

556 2.7

To use what you know and have learned to make good choices and give good advice

388 3.0

Ability to learn, understand, and use knowledge to solve problems

Compounds

An inherited disease where fat builds up in the brain and causes early death in children

A rare childhood disease passed from parents that causes gradual blindness, loss of thinking ability, and early death

How Stupid

idiocy
  • Offensive
32 8.0
stupidity
12 3.4
foolishness
50 2.7
silliness
28 2.6

Surface Forms

idiocy singular
idiocies plural

Morphology

idiocy = idiot (transparent) = idiot + y

The noun denotes the state or quality of being an 'idiot', a direct and regular noun formation from the base 'idiot' that learners can readily infer.

Etymology

Idiocy comes from the Greek root idios, which meant 'own' or 'private', and from this came the word idiot that first meant a private person who did not take part in public life. Over time idiot came to mean a very foolish or uneducated person, so idiocy now refers to extreme stupidity and is considered offensive and outdated.