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wooden-headed

wooden-headed

8.9
Slow to understand or learn things
  • adjective
  • /ˈwʊdənˌhɛdɪd/
  • Offensive
translation icon : estúpido (ofensivo)
  • He can be quite wooden-headed when it comes to understanding complex problems.

Examples

  • Wooden-headed buffoon!

    Fiction book (1992)
  • So you haven't gotten the wooden-headed Mr. Wilkes out of your mind.

  • "Like a brother, you great wooden-headed lummox!

    Fiction book (1991)
  • You're a wooden-headed wonder after all, Perrin Aybara.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Despite her obvious talents, she can sometimes be wooden-headed during discussions.

  • Don't be so wooden-headed; try to think outside the box once in a while.

Synonyms

thick
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
41 8.2

Not very smart and slow to understand

is the colloquial, imageable expression for the same slowness
simple-minded
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
16 7.1

Not very intelligent and too naive about complex things

is the blunt informal phrase for slow or low intelligence
obtuse
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
14 7.4

Slow to understand what other people mean

is more casual and informal when saying someone is slow
boneheaded
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
8 8.0

Very stupid and not thinking clearly

is a blunt informal way to mark slow understanding
thickheaded
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
4 7.9

Slow to understand simple ideas or instructions

is the informal, imageable word for similar mental slowness
slow-witted
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
3 6.7

Not quick to understand or think

labels slowness in everyday speech rather than clinical lack
doltish
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
1 9.3

Not very smart and acting in a foolish way

is the colloquial, imageable phrase for comparable slowness
gormless
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Someone who is not smart and slow to understand

is more plainly about slow understanding without the drive aspect
thick-skulled
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
1 8.1

Not quick to understand or learn new things

focuses on ordinary slow thinking without stubborn implication
blockheaded
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
1 8.3

Not able to think clearly or make good decisions

is narrower, focusing mainly on slow mental grasping
fatheaded
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
1 8.8

Not very smart or sensible

is more playful and less directly insulting in tone
dunderheaded
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
1 7.9

Being very foolish and showing poor judgment

is lighter, marking plain slowness rather than harsh insult
muddleheaded
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
1 9.1

Confused and unable to think clearly

is the simpler insult for slow comprehension rather than confusion
lunkheaded
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
9.8

Being very foolish and clumsy in how someone thinks or acts

focuses on mental slowness without implying physical clumsiness
loggerheaded
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
9.9

Showing very little intelligence or common sense

is a more imageable casual word for slow understanding
duncish
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
9.9

Slow to understand things and often acting foolishly

is the everyday, vivid term for comparable slowness
duncical
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
9.9

Very foolish and showing little sense

is the colloquial expression used for simple slow understanding
gaumless
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
9.9

Slow to understand or act because they are tired

is the more imageable insult focused on slow mind alone
puddingheaded
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
9.9

Silly and confused in the way someone thinks

is firmer, labelling simple slowness rather than confusion
lumpen
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
9.9

Slow and crude in thinking and behavior

focuses on bare slowness without coarse or crude connotations
bullet-headed
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
9.7

Being stubborn and not clever

is purely about slow understanding without stubbornness
pinheaded
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
7.1

Very foolish and often making bad choices

is more about being slow to understand rather than acting foolishly
beetle-headed
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
9.9

Not smart and slow to understand

is the modern informal expression used instead today
dumb as a doornail
vswooden-headed
  • Offensive
8.9

Very foolish or not showing any reaction

is a milder colloquial label for slow understanding

Antonyms

507 3.4

Able to think, understand, and learn new things

4 4.8

Able to think and give smart fast answers

How Intelligent

slow
  • Offensive
297 4.4
wooden-headed
  • Offensive
8.9
stupid
  • Offensive
1.0
brainless
  • Offensive
24 3.5

Surface Forms

wooden-headed positive

Morphology

wooden-headed = wooden (semi-transparent) = wood + head + en + ed

Formed by adding the combining element '-headed' to 'wooden'; the meaning 'stupid' is a metaphorical extension (wooden → stiff/insensitive → wooden-headed), so the relation is noticeable but not fully literal.

Etymology

The word wooden-headed comes from the parts wooden 'like wood' and head 'mind'. Imagine a head made of wood that cannot move or think easily, so wooden-headed means 'slow to understand' or 'stupid'.