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
simpletons
noun
1
as in fools
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
- fools
- lunatics
- nuts
- morons
- idiots
- geese
- simps
- nitwits
- ninnies
- jackasses
- berks
- doofuses
- losers
- monkeys
- dingbats
- turkeys
- nutcases
- nincompoops
- cuckoos
- dipsticks
- half-wits
- gits
- boobies
- dolts
- imbeciles
- charlies
- daredevils
- ignoramuses
- mooncalves
- featherheads
- dummies
- blockheads
- nits
- dopes
- dufuses
- charleys
- ninnyhammers
- ding-dongs
- knuckleheads
- donkeys
- madmen
- pinheads
- dunces
- numskulls
- airheads
- numbskulls
- madwomen
- scatterbrains
- ignorami
- schlubs
- chumps
- goons
- dorks
- yo-yos
- know-nothings
- ding-a-lings
- birdbrains
- dupes
- laughingstocks
- shlubs
- screwballs
- fatheads
- characters
- ganders
- kooks
- schlemiels
- weirdos
- schnooks
- oddballs
- dodos
- codgers
- crackpots
- stocks
- butts
- mockeries
- dumbbells
- schlumps
- dodoes
- cranks
- featherbrains
- shlemiels
- crackbrains
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- thinkers
- sages
- brains
- geniuses
- genii
2
as in morons
a stupid person she felt like such a simpleton for needing help to install her home theater Synonyms & Similar Words
- morons
- idiots
- stupids
- fools
- lunatics
- prats
- dullards
- dolts
- imbeciles
- dimwits
- dummies
- losers
- ignoramuses
- dunderheads
- blockheads
- yahoos
- dopes
- mutts
- lunkheads
- boneheads
- geese
- knuckleheads
- pinheads
- cretins
- dunces
- numskulls
- oafs
- nitwits
- ninnies
- airheads
- loons
- chuckleheads
- numbskulls
- nimrods
- jackasses
- donkeys
- ignorami
- schlubs
- hardheads
- goons
- naturals
- dorks
- meatheads
- bubbleheads
- stupes
- clowns
- doofuses
- thickheads
- know-nothings
- deadheads
- nincompoops
- goofs
- birdbrains
- golems
- lamebrains
- fatheads
- shlubs
- half-wits
- jerks
- dumb clucks
- turkeys
- noddies
- clucks
- ganders
- dumbheads
- ratbags
- buffoons
- nuts
- chowderheads
- schnooks
- dodos
- stocks
- noodles
- loggerheads
- hammerheads
- dum-dums
- dips
- lumps
- dumbbells
- momes
- clunks
- sapheads
- dim bulbs
- dodoes
- villains
- woodenheads
- cuddies
- nits
- dufuses
- madmen
- loonies
- ninnyhammers
- clodpoles
- dummkopfs
- clots
- skunks
- skunk
- clodpolls
- zanies
- snakes
- boobies
- yo-yos
- boors
- scatterbrains
- mugs
- beasts
- cads
- gawks
- creeps
- stinkers
- churls
- curs
- heels
- featherbrains
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- brains
- intellectuals
- geniuses
- intellects
- thinkers
- sages
- genii
- wizards
- whizzes
- polymaths
- sharpies
- Renaissance men