simpleton
noun
sim·ple·ton ˈsim-pəl-tən 
: a person lacking in common sense
Synonyms
- berk [British]
- booby
- charlie [British]
- charley
- cuckoo
- ding-a-ling
- ding-dong
- dingbat
- dipstick
- doofus [slang]
- featherhead
- fool
- git [British]
- goose
- half-wit
- jackass
- lunatic
- mooncalf
- nincompoop
- ninny
- ninnyhammer
- nit [chiefly British]
- nitwit
- nut
- nutcase
- simp
- turkey
- yo-yo
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The instructions were so complicated I felt like a complete simpleton. his silly antics at office parties have earned him a reputation as a simpleton
Recent Examples on the Web White brought a similar whiplash to Rose Nylund, the oracle of St. Olaf, Minnesota, and The Golden Girls’ complicated simpleton. 
Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 1 Jan. 2022 There can’t be anything more transparent than Manfred’s nail-pounding support for the beleaguered A’s in their battle against the simpleton officials of Oakland. Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Oct. 2021 It is sometimes used as a synonym for uncouth or a simpleton. David Luhnow And Juan Montes, WSJ, 19 Oct. 2021 Korean media has long perpetuated the stereotype of the migrant worker as a simpleton with broken language and exaggerated mannerisms, and Saeji said Ali doesn’t completely transcend that. NBC News, 8 Oct. 2021 Just because your simpleton that can only carry drinks and food to a table does not mean the rest of us need to risk a virus. Ann Norman, cleveland, 20 Nov. 2020 Some historians emphasize the intellectual prowess of fascist dictators to imply that Trump is a simpleton or a moron. Federico Finchelstein, The New Republic, 20 Aug. 2020 The tale is bookended by the 15-year-old Kafka and the elderly Nakata, a simpleton who communicates with cats. Debra Kamin, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2020 Todd was always an only-half-knowable grotesque, one of those Jim Thompson-y fellas who could be a lucky simpleton or an evil genius. Darren Franich, EW.com, 11 Oct. 2019 See More
Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 1 Jan. 2022 There can’t be anything more transparent than Manfred’s nail-pounding support for the beleaguered A’s in their battle against the simpleton officials of Oakland. Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Oct. 2021 It is sometimes used as a synonym for uncouth or a simpleton. David Luhnow And Juan Montes, WSJ, 19 Oct. 2021 Korean media has long perpetuated the stereotype of the migrant worker as a simpleton with broken language and exaggerated mannerisms, and Saeji said Ali doesn’t completely transcend that. NBC News, 8 Oct. 2021 Just because your simpleton that can only carry drinks and food to a table does not mean the rest of us need to risk a virus. Ann Norman, cleveland, 20 Nov. 2020 Some historians emphasize the intellectual prowess of fascist dictators to imply that Trump is a simpleton or a moron. Federico Finchelstein, The New Republic, 20 Aug. 2020 The tale is bookended by the 15-year-old Kafka and the elderly Nakata, a simpleton who communicates with cats. Debra Kamin, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Mar. 2020 Todd was always an only-half-knowable grotesque, one of those Jim Thompson-y fellas who could be a lucky simpleton or an evil genius. Darren Franich, EW.com, 11 Oct. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
simple entry 1 + -ton (as in surnames such as Washington)
First Known Use
circa 1630, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
simpleton
noun
sim·ple·ton ˈsim-pəl-tən
: a foolish or stupid person
simpleton
noun
1
as in lunatic
a person who lacks good sense or judgment his silly antics at office parties have earned him a reputation as a simpleton Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- lunatic
- fool
- moron
- idiot
- goose
- doofus
- simp
- nut
- jackass
- nitwit
- ninny
- cuckoo
- featherhead
- berk
- monkey
- dingbat
- loser
- mooncalf
- booby
- nutcase
- turkey
- half-wit
- charlie
- ignoramus
- nincompoop
- dolt
- git
- imbecile
- dipstick
- daredevil
- blockhead
- dunce
- dummy
- charley
- ninnyhammer
- donkey
- nit
- madman
- airhead
- knucklehead
- ding-dong
- numbskull
- numskull
- schnook
- pinhead
- ding-a-ling
- goon
- schlub
- yo-yo
- madwoman
- scatterbrain
- dork
- schlump
- schlemiel
- chump
- know-nothing
- kook
- birdbrain
- shlub
- dope
- character
- dodo
- codger
- laughingstock
- fathead
- weirdo
- screwball
- dupe
- gander
- oddball
- dumbbell
- crackpot
- mockery
- stock
- butt
- crank
- featherbrain
- crackbrain
- shlemiel
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- genius
- thinker
- brain
- sage
2
as in moron
a stupid person she felt like such a simpleton for needing help to install her home theater Synonyms & Similar Words
- moron
- idiot
- stupid
- lunatic
- dullard
- prat
- fool
- ignoramus
- dolt
- imbecile
- dummy
- dunderhead
- loser
- dimwit
- mutt
- blockhead
- dunce
- natural
- lunkhead
- cretin
- goose
- airhead
- lamebrain
- donkey
- dummkopf
- loon
- knucklehead
- bonehead
- doofus
- oaf
- numskull
- dumbhead
- pinhead
- ninny
- schnook
- jackass
- numbskull
- goof
- nitwit
- goon
- schlub
- nimrod
- stupe
- chucklehead
- hardhead
- dork
- clown
- yahoo
- golem
- meathead
- noddy
- dope
- turkey
- birdbrain
- chowderhead
- shlub
- know-nothing
- jerk
- fathead
- half-wit
- dodo
- cluck
- bubblehead
- buffoon
- clunk
- nincompoop
- ratbag
- thickhead
- gander
- deadhead
- villain
- mome
- dumb cluck
- dim bulb
- dumbbell
- dip
- woodenhead
- hammerhead
- lump
- noodle
- saphead
- loggerhead
- stock
- nit
- loony
- cuddy
- dum-dum
- ninnyhammer
- madman
- cuddie
- clodpole
- skunk
- clot
- clodpoll
- booby
- zany
- yo-yo
- snake
- boor
- nut
- scatterbrain
- mug
- creep
- cad
- beast
- gawk
- stinker
- heel
- cur
- churl
- featherbrain
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- genius
- brain
- intellect
- thinker
- intellectual
- sage
- wizard
- whiz
- polymath
- Renaissance man
- sharpy
- sharpie
- lepidodendrid
- lepidodendroid
- lepidodendroids
- Lepidodendron
- lepidodendrons
- Lepidoidei
- lepidolite
- lepidolites
- lepidomelane
- lepidomelanes
- Lepidophloios
- lepidophobiae
- lepidophobias
- lepidophyllous
- Lepidophyllum
- lepidophyte
- lepidophytic
- lepidopter
- lepidoptera
- lepidopterae
- lepidopteran
- lepidopterans
- lepidopteras
- lepidopterist
- lepidopterists