dunce

noun

ˈdən(t)s

: a slow-witted or stupid person

Did you know?

The irony of dunce lies in the fact that this synonym of dullard is derived from the name of one of the most brilliant thinkers of the Middle Ages, John Duns Scotus. So ingenious were the theological and metaphysical speculations of this thinker that he was given the name “the Subtle Doctor.” However, in the 16th century, his followers became a conservative element in English universities, and they tended to resist the new learning of humanism. As result, dunsman and the shortened form duns (later respelled as we have it today), became terms of scorn, meaning first “sophist” or “pedant” and gradually taking on the modern sense “slow-witted person.”

Synonyms

airhead
birdbrain
blockhead
bonehead
bubblehead
chowderhead
chucklehead
clodpoll
clodpole
clot [British]
cluck
clunk
cretin
cuddy [British dialect]
cuddie
deadhead
dim bulb [slang]
dimwit
dip
dodo
dolt
donkey
doofus [slang]
dope
dork [slang]
dullard
dum-dum
dumbbell
dumbhead
dummkopf
dummy
dunderhead
fathead
gander
golem
goof
goon
half-wit
hammerhead
hardhead
idiot
ignoramus
imbecile
jackass
know-nothing
knucklehead
lamebrain
loggerhead [chiefly dialect]
loon
lump
lunkhead
meathead
mome [archaic]
moron
mug [chiefly British]
mutt
natural
nimrod [slang]
nincompoop
ninny
ninnyhammer
nit [chiefly British]
nitwit
noddy
noodle
numskull
numbskull
oaf
pinhead
prat [British]
ratbag [chiefly Australian]
saphead
schlub [slang]
shlub
schnook [slang]
simpleton
stock
stupe
stupid
thickhead
turkey
woodenhead
yahoo
yo-yo

See all Synonyms & Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Most adamant in their stances are permabulls and permabears who cherry-pick the latest economic indicators to create the illusion that only a dunce could possibly disagree with them.

Martin Fridson, Forbes, 16 May 2022 Ermengarde, the school dunce, Lottie, the school crybaby, and Becky, the scullery maid, quickly find a defender, surrogate mother, and friend in Sara.

Sarah Schutte, National Review, 13 Mar. 2022 In my view, the biggest mistake scientists make is to claim that this is all somehow simple and therefore to imply that anyone who doesn't get it is a dunce.

Naomi Oreskes, Scientific American, 21 June 2021 Even mild-mannered GOP politicos and writers call Uncle Joe a phony, a liar, a dunce, a socialist: Our turn.

Keith C. Burris, Star Tribune, 14 Apr. 2021 Pena insists that his path to success, power, and money started in grammar school, when he was forced to wear a dunce hat.

Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2021 The nerd next door who's a whiz in geometry and a dunce in relationships.

Neal Justin, Star Tribune, 25 Mar. 2021 The professors wore tall paper dunce caps and looked as shocked as the spectators, who watched from the university’s lawn, some with tears in their eyes.

Marty Judge Community Voices Contributor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2021 What started as casual brutality—class enemies forced to wear ridiculous dunce caps or stand in stress positions—degenerated into outright sadism.

Barbara Demick, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2020 See More

单词	dunce
释义	dunce noun ˈdən(t)s : a slow-witted or stupid person Did you know? The irony of dunce lies in the fact that this synonym of dullard is derived from the name of one of the most brilliant thinkers of the Middle Ages, John Duns Scotus. So ingenious were the theological and metaphysical speculations of this thinker that he was given the name “the Subtle Doctor.” However, in the 16th century, his followers became a conservative element in English universities, and they tended to resist the new learning of humanism. As result, dunsman and the shortened form duns (later respelled as we have it today), became terms of scorn, meaning first “sophist” or “pedant” and gradually taking on the modern sense “slow-witted person.” Synonyms airhead birdbrain blockhead bonehead bubblehead chowderhead chucklehead clodpoll clodpole clot [British] cluck clunk cretin cuddy [British dialect] cuddie deadhead dim bulb [slang] dimwit dip dodo dolt donkey doofus [slang] dope dork [slang] dullard dum-dum dumbbell dumbhead dummkopf dummy dunderhead fathead gander golem goof goon half-wit hammerhead hardhead idiot ignoramus imbecile jackass know-nothing knucklehead lamebrain loggerhead [chiefly dialect] loon lump lunkhead meathead mome [archaic] moron mug [chiefly British] mutt natural nimrod [slang] nincompoop ninny ninnyhammer nit [chiefly British] nitwit noddy noodle numskull numbskull oaf pinhead prat [British] ratbag [chiefly Australian] saphead schlub [slang] shlub schnook [slang] simpleton stock stupe stupid thickhead turkey woodenhead yahoo yo-yo See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web Most adamant in their stances are permabulls and permabears who cherry-pick the latest economic indicators to create the illusion that only a dunce could possibly disagree with them. Martin Fridson, Forbes, 16 May 2022 Ermengarde, the school dunce, Lottie, the school crybaby, and Becky, the scullery maid, quickly find a defender, surrogate mother, and friend in Sara. Sarah Schutte, National Review, 13 Mar. 2022 In my view, the biggest mistake scientists make is to claim that this is all somehow simple and therefore to imply that anyone who doesn't get it is a dunce. Naomi Oreskes, Scientific American, 21 June 2021 Even mild-mannered GOP politicos and writers call Uncle Joe a phony, a liar, a dunce, a socialist: Our turn. Keith C. Burris, Star Tribune, 14 Apr. 2021 Pena insists that his path to success, power, and money started in grammar school, when he was forced to wear a dunce hat. Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2021 The nerd next door who's a whiz in geometry and a dunce in relationships. Neal Justin, Star Tribune, 25 Mar. 2021 The professors wore tall paper dunce caps and looked as shocked as the spectators, who watched from the university’s lawn, some with tears in their eyes. Marty Judge Community Voices Contributor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2021 What started as casual brutality—class enemies forced to wear ridiculous dunce caps or stand in stress positions—degenerated into outright sadism. Barbara Demick, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2020 See More Word History Etymology John Duns Scotus, whose once accepted writings were ridiculed in the 16th century First Known Use 1567, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing dunce dunce cap dunce cap Kids Definition dunce noun ˈdəns : a stupid person dunce noun as in idiot a stupid person she's here on scholarship, so she's clearly no dunce Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance idiot moron stupid prat dolt dummy fool loser lunatic imbecile dullard dunderhead ignoramus blockhead dimwit simpleton pinhead mutt goose oaf doofus knucklehead bonehead dork cretin dummkopf jackass chucklehead ninny nitwit airhead donkey numskull goof lunkhead dumbhead schnook numbskull loon stupe natural fathead clown goon schlub lamebrain hardhead nimrod meathead nincompoop noddy yahoo jerk know-nothing chowderhead buffoon dope half-wit golem shlub birdbrain bubblehead gander ratbag turkey cluck hammerhead noodle clunk nit deadhead villain dodo dip mome lump saphead dumbbell loggerhead clodpole ninnyhammer madman dim bulb stock dum-dum cuddy dumb cluck thickhead loony booby clodpoll woodenhead skunk clot yo-yo cuddie snake nut boor mug zany scatterbrain cad creep stinker beast heel gawk cur churl featherbrain Antonyms & Near Antonyms genius brain thinker sage intellect whiz wizard intellectual polymath sharpie sharpy Renaissance man See More
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dunce

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing dunce

Kids Definition

noun

noun