boneheaded
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- (used informally) stupid