slow-wittedness

8.1

A state when someone is slow to understand things

noun
/sloʊ ˈwɪtɪdnəs/

Offensive

: retraso mental

Despite his slow-wittedness, he is a kind and caring friend.

Examples

Forgive my slow-wittedness, Skipper... but are thee asking us to spare this sweet-smelling toad?

The Crimson Pirate (1952)
He was amazed at Mama's slow-wittedness.

Fiction book (2001)
His slow-wittedness made it difficult for him to follow the complicated instructions.
She often attributed her struggles in school to her slow-wittedness in grasping new concepts.

Synonyms

obtuseness

vsslow-wittedness

Offensive

1 8.1

Being slow to understand or notice things

refers to slow overall understanding rather than specifically dull perception

dumbness

vsslow-wittedness

Offensive

1 6.2

A state of not understanding things quickly

is a more measured description of slow understanding without blunt labeling

slowness

vsslow-wittedness

Specialized

1 4.3

A condition when a person's ability to think and learn develops less quickly than usual

is the general quality of slow comprehension, not developmental timing

denseness

vsslow-wittedness

Offensive

1 7.7

Not able to understand things quickly

focuses on the general state of delayed understanding rather than this emphasis

dullness

vsslow-wittedness

1 3.8

Slow thinking and trouble understanding new things

is the broad condition of slow understanding rather than this specific trait

simple-mindedness

vsslow-wittedness

Offensive

1 7.2

A way of thinking that is not careful or deep

is about slow comprehension rather than limited thought complexity

dimwittedness

vsslow-wittedness

Offensive

7.7

A quality of being slow to understand and making simple mistakes

is the neutral phrase for slow comprehension without blunt judgment

witlessness

vsslow-wittedness

Offensive

7.9

A lack of cleverness or quick thinking

focuses on slow general understanding rather than just lacking cleverness

dopiness

vsslow-wittedness

Informal

6.6

Being slow and silly in a way that looks confused

is purely about slow comprehension without silliness or daze

Antonyms

intelligence

418 3.0

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

quick-wittedness

6.5

To think and answer fast and cleverly

How Quick

sharpness

1 4.1

quickness

2 4.1

slow-wittedness

Offensive

8.1

Surface Forms

slow-wittedness singular

slow-wittednesses plural

Morphology

slow-wittedness = slow-witted (transparent) = slow + witted + ness

The noun is formed by adding the productive nominaliser '-ness' to the adjective 'slow-witted', which is itself transparently 'slow' + 'witted'.

Etymology

Slow-wittedness comes from joining slow and wit, where wit is an old English word for 'mind' or 'understanding' and is the same root you see in witty, meaning quick in thought, so slow-wittedness is the state of being 'slow' to understand.