thick-headed

A thick-headed student struggles with a simple math problem.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Stupid or slow to understand: "thick-headed" describes someone who is unintelligent or has difficulty grasping ideas or instructions. It implies a lack of mental sharpness or quickness.

Usage Examples

• (He is very slow to understand.)
• (The student was slow to learn.)
• (Do not be so stupid or slow-witted.)

Advanced Usage

• "Thick-headed" can be used metaphorically to describe a person's mental state, not a physical trait. It is often used informally or as an insult.
  • Despite multiple explanations, his thick-headed refusal to see the truth annoyed everyone. (His stubborn stupidity prevented understanding.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thickheaded (adj): alternative spelling (without hyphen).
  • She called him thickheaded for forgetting the appointment again. (He was stupid for forgetting.)
• Thick-head (n): a person who is stupid or slow-witted.
  • Only a thick-head would fall for that trick. (Only a stupid person would be deceived.)
• Thick-skulled (adj): similar meaning, referring to dullness or slowness.
  • He is too thick-skulled to learn from his mistakes. (He is too obtuse to improve.)

Synonyms

• Dull-witted: slow to understand or learn.
• Obtuse: annoyingly slow to perceive or understand.
• Slow-witted: lacking quickness of mind.
• Stupid: lacking intelligence or common sense.
• Dense: informal term for slow to understand.

Related Idioms

• Thick as a brick: extremely stupid or slow-witted.
  • He is as thick as a brick; he cannot follow simple directions. (He is very dull.)
• Thick in the head: another way to say "thick-headed."
  • She is thick in the head and never gets the joke. (She is slow to understand humour.)