imbecility

Examples

• All

• These imbecilities make us, too, writhe as if bound upon an altar.

  Academic text (2001)

• FANNY: Oh, but imbecility in females greatly enhances our charms.

  Fiction book (1999)

• It is imbecility and high-handed, it seems to me.

  The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985)

• Imbecility breeds imbecility as certainly as white hens breed white chickens.

• How many idiots voted for Mitt Romney? Answer to this important question: Philosophy of Imbecility and Cretinism

  Blog text (4)

• This whole Petraeus crapfest is so much like the Lewinsky imbecility in the 90s.

  Blog text (17)

• OH, BUT IMBECILITY IN WOMEN IS A GREAT ENHANCEMENT TO THEIR PERSONAL CHARMS.

  Mansfield Park (1999)

• But, it is one of the peculiar imbecilities of our time that we place a grid of morality upon human behavior so that the action of every man must be measured against an arbitrary latitude of right and a longitude of wrong in exact minutes, degrees, and seconds, so...

  Inherit the Wind (1960)

• Making someone believe that the engine could run without fuel was an act of pure imbecility.

• His comment during the meeting was such an imbecility that everyone stopped to stare in disbelief.

Synonyms

F

foolishness

vsimbecility

61 2.7

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

refers specifically to one act, remark, or error rather than an overall quality

F

folly

vsimbecility

59 7.3

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

focuses on a single act, remark, or error rather than a general failing

S

stupidity

vsimbecility

51 3.4

A foolish action that shows poor judgment

is phrased to name a single act, remark, or error rather than a trait

M

misstep

vsimbecility

44 5.3

A small wrong action that causes embarrassment or harm to people's trust

is broader, covering intentional and unintentional acts or remarks showing poor sense

I

idiocy

vsimbecility

• Offensive

40 8.0

Very stupid or foolish behaviour often seen as offensive

is milder, referring to a single act, remark, or error rather than a state

I

indiscretion

vsimbecility

38 7.3

A small mistake that shows bad judgment but is not serious

can refer to both small and more notable acts or remarks showing poor sense

D

dumb mistake

vsimbecility

• Informal

4 2.8

A careless, foolish error that causes problems

covers any act, remark, or error that shows lack of good sense

F

fatuity

vsimbecility

• Formal

1 9.9

A very silly and stupid idea or action

is broader, used for any single act or remark showing poor sense

I

imprudence

vsimbecility

1 7.7

A failure to be careful or to use good judgment when making choices

is the specific name for one act, remark, or error showing poor sense

B

betise

vsimbecility

• Archaic

9.9

A silly mistake that shows bad judgment

is the general term for any act, remark, or error showing poor sense

C

cockbrained mistake

vsimbecility

• Archaic

9.9

A foolish mistake made without thinking that causes trouble

is used more generally for any act or remark showing poor sense

L

low-IQ remark

vsimbecility

• Offensive

7.7

A rude comment that shows little thinking or common sense

is about any act or remark showing poor sense, not only comments

I

impolicy

vsimbecility

• Archaic

9.9

An unwise decision or action that shows poor judgment

is used for a single act or remark without stressing tact or diplomacy

Antonyms

W

wisdom

571 2.7

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

How Foolish

imbecility

• Informal

1 8.4

blunder

49 3.0

mistake

∞ 1.0

misstep

44 5.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology