imbecilic

/,imbi'silik/

Học thuật

Thân thiện

The teacher patiently explained the simple concept again to the imbecilic student.

Definition

Adjective:
- Extremely stupid or foolish; showing a complete lack of intelligence or common sense. The word describes ideas, actions, or behavior that are senseless or idiotic.
- Having or showing a very low level of intelligence, akin to a severe intellectual disability. This is a dated and offensive clinical usage.

Usage

The word imbecilic is a strong, formal adjective used to express severe criticism or contempt for something perceived as profoundly stupid. It is often used in rhetorical or literary contexts.
Caution: Due to its historical use as a clinical term for a person with a severe intellectual disability, using imbecilic to describe a person can be highly offensive and derogatory. It is generally considered more acceptable to use it for criticizing abstract concepts like ideas, plans, or comments.

Examples

Describing an idea or action:
- The villain's plan to take over the world was utterly imbecilic.
- It would be imbecilic to go hiking in a thunderstorm.
- She dismissed his argument with an imbecilic wave of her hand.

Advanced Usage

"imbecilic grin/smile": A smile that appears foolish, vacant, or lacking in understanding.
- He just stood there with an imbecilic grin, not comprehending the danger.

Variants and Related Words

Imbecile (noun, adj): (Offensive) A person of very low intelligence; extremely stupid. (The adjective form is less common than "imbecilic").
- Noun (offensive): He was cruelly labeled an imbecile.
- Adjective (rare): That was an imbecile thing to do.
Imbecility (noun): The state or quality of being imbecilic; an instance of extreme foolishness.
- The imbecility of the proposal was obvious to everyone.

Synonyms

Idiotic: Very stupid.
Moronic: Foolish or stupid (also carries offensive historical connotations).
Asinine: Extremely stupid or silly.
Inane: Silly; stupid.
Fatuous: Silly and pointless.

Antonyms

Notes on Usage and Connotation

Historical Context: "Imbecile" and "imbecilic" were once formal medical terms (along with "idiot" and "moron") to classify levels of intellectual disability. These terms are now considered obsolete and deeply offensive in that context.
Modern Use: In contemporary English, imbecilic is primarily used as a harsh pejorative for ideas, behavior, or statements deemed exceptionally foolish. Its use often implies not just a lack of intelligence, but also a lack of basic judgment.

The teacher patiently explained the simple concept again to the imbecilic student.

Adjective

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