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	dunces
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 dunces noun plural of dunce as in idiots a stupid person she's here on scholarship, so she's clearly no dunce Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance idiots morons stupids fools lunatics dummies prats imbeciles dolts losers dullards blockheads ignoramuses dunderheads dopes dimwits pinheads knuckleheads ninnies numskulls boneheads chuckleheads lunkheads mutts simpletons airheads cretins yahoos oafs geese nitwits dorks jackasses numbskulls donkeys nimrods loons nincompoops stupes goofs clowns fatheads schlubs doofuses hardheads ignorami meatheads know-nothings deadheads bubbleheads noddies buffoons naturals jerks goons ratbags shlubs hammerheads ganders lumps birdbrains chowderheads nuts half-wits loggerheads golems turkeys dips stocks clucks dumbheads thickheads clunks sapheads dumb clucks schnooks noodles madmen nits dumbbells lamebrains dodos villains dum-dums loonies dim bulbs dummkopfs clodpoles momes dufuses cuddies clots dodoes zanies clodpolls ninnyhammers woodenheads skunks skunk boobies snakes yo-yos boors mugs beasts scatterbrains creeps gawks cads stinkers churls heels curs featherbrains Antonyms & Near Antonyms brains geniuses genii intellectuals thinkers intellects sages wizards whizzes polymaths sharpies Renaissance men See More
随便看	lachrymation lachrymations lachrymator lachrymatories lachrymators lachrymist lachrymose lachrymosely lachrymoser lachrymosest lachrymosities lachrymosity lachsschinken lachsschinkens lacier laciest make down make ducks and drakes of make ends meet make every effort make eyes make eyes (at) make eyes at make faces make for

dunce

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing dunce

Kids Definition

noun

noun