Definition

Adjective: - (informal) Extremely stupid or foolish; showing a complete lack of intelligence or common sense. This word is a strong, informal, and often humorous or derogatory term used to describe a person, action, or idea that is perceived as profoundly unintelligent.

Usage

• Describing a person: Used to label someone as very stupid.
• Describing an action or decision: Used to criticize a choice or behavior as foolish.
• Tone: The word is informal and blunt. It can be insulting but is sometimes used among friends in a teasing manner. It emphasizes a stubborn, thick-skulled kind of stupidity.

Examples

• Describing a person:
  • Don't ask him for advice; he's completely boneheaded.
  • The boneheaded driver caused a three-car pileup by going the wrong way.
• Describing an action or idea:
  • That was a boneheaded mistake to make.
  • The company's boneheaded policy led to a massive customer boycott.

Advanced Usage

• "boneheaded move": A very foolish action or decision.
  • Forgetting your passport was a real boneheaded move.
• "boneheaded stubbornness": Stupidity combined with an unwillingness to listen or change.
  • His boneheaded stubbornness prevented the team from finding a better solution.

Variants and Related Words

• Bonehead (noun): A stupid person.
  • He's such a bonehead for locking his keys in the car.
• Bone (verb, informal): To study intensely (slang, unrelated to intelligence). This is a different usage.
  • I need to bone up on my history before the exam.

Synonyms

• Stupid: Lacking intelligence or common sense. (More general, less vivid)
• Thickheaded: Slow to understand; obtuse.
• Dense: Slow to understand; of low mental acuity.
• Dim-witted: Not intelligent; slow to learn.
• Obtuse: Annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand. (More formal)
• Moronic: Very foolish or stupid. (Similar strength, can be more clinical)

Antonyms

• Intelligent
• Brilliant
• Clever
• Astute
• Perceptive

Idioms and Phrases

• Bonehead play: A very foolish mistake, especially in sports or games.
  • The quarterback's bonehead play cost his team the game.
• Bonehead of the year award: A humorous, sarcastic title given to someone for an exceptionally stupid act.
  • Forgetting your own birthday? You win the bonehead of the year award.

Adjective

1. (used informally) stupid