Dumb
adjective
Not able to speak.
He was dumb with astonishment.
Often appears as...
- dumb with fear
- dumb animals
adjective
Stupid or lacking intelligence.
It was a dumb mistake to make.
Often appears as...
- dumb mistake
- dumb question
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
adjective
Temporarily unable or unwilling to speak.
He was so surprised, he was struck dumb.
Often appears as...
- struck dumb
- dumb with surprise
adjective
Not expressed in speech.
A dumb show of affection.
Often appears as...
- dumb show
- dumb signal
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
adjective
Not able to speak.
He was dumb with astonishment.
Often appears as...
- dumb with fear
- dumb animals
adjective
Stupid or lacking intelligence.
It was a dumb mistake to make.
Often appears as...
- dumb mistake
- dumb question
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
adjective
Temporarily unable or unwilling to speak.
He was so surprised, he was struck dumb.
Often appears as...
- struck dumb
- dumb with surprise
adjective
Not expressed in speech.
A dumb show of affection.
Often appears as...
- dumb show
- dumb signal
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Literal Silence
Originally meant unable to speak, used for physical inability to vocalize.
In the past, people who were deaf were often called dumb too.
Pro Tip 2/2Sensitive Usage
Be careful using 'dumb' to describe non-speaking; it may be offensive.
Instead of 'dumb', it's more respectful to say 'non-verbal'.
Pro Tip 1/2Literal Silence
Originally meant unable to speak, used for physical inability to vocalize.
In the past, people who were deaf were often called dumb too.
Pro Tip 2/2Sensitive Usage
Be careful using 'dumb' to describe non-speaking; it may be offensive.
Instead of 'dumb', it's more respectful to say 'non-verbal'.
Pro Tip 1/2Literal Silence
Originally meant unable to speak, used for physical inability to vocalize.
In the past, people who were deaf were often called dumb too.
Pro Tip 2/2Sensitive Usage
Be careful using 'dumb' to describe non-speaking; it may be offensive.
Instead of 'dumb', it's more respectful to say 'non-verbal'.
Never forget "Dumb"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
How to make your writing...
or too obvious, or just plain dumb, try jotting it down, anyway. What's obvious to you may not be to the next person. And the opposite of the dumbest idea might just turn out to be the smartest. What about all that dumb stuff that happens in real life? Have you ever noticed how much comedy revolves around things
Video examples
A roadmap to end aging PIPE...
we'll be denying those people an indefinite life span, and I consider that that is immoral. That's my answer to the overpopulation question. Right. So the next thing is, now why should we get a little bit more active on this? And the fundamental answer is that the pro-aging trance is not as dumb as it looks.
Video examples
Plankton, a Thank You...
I we eat the dumb Marvin then small fish eat us bigger animals eat them all the way up the food chain even the blue whale the biggest animal that's ever lived usually likes nothing more than a great mouth full of stupid krill what this means is no plankton no sea life no
Video examples
Kathryn Schulz: Don't...
and dumb decisions, of course. I do that hourly. But I had always felt like, look, you know, I made the best choice I could make given who I was then, given the information I had on hand. I learned a lesson from it. It somehow got me to where I am in life right now.
Video examples
The biology of gender,...
than the average elephant, but that doesn't mean the average man is three times dumber than an elephant or does it? There's a new wave of female neuroscientists that are finding important differences between female and male brains in neuron connectivity,
Video examples
Why kids need to learn...
and looking up at the great big world through their tiny little eyes, taking these seemingly complex ideas and simplifying them -- not dumbing them down, but homing in on the core concept. Gender is about how we feel and how we express ourselves.
Video examples
The Search for...
There was a secret message in her choreography. What had seemed to countless generations of observers to be nothing more than the meaningless spasmodic motions of a dumb animal was actually a complex message,
Video examples
Stop defining yourself...
swing open intuitions Spectrum's a largeness that she stepped into that changed her life and in the end of her life she said I found joy she was deaf dumb blind and brilliant that's all of
Video examples
The first secret of...
Our challenge is to wake up each day and say, "How can I experience the world better?" And if we do, maybe, just maybe, we can get rid of these dumb little stickers. Thank you very much.
Video examples
Why our IQ levels are...
they said that is the dumbest thing you've ever said. Who have you ever known who woke up in the morning -- that turned black? In other words, they were fixed in the concrete
Video examples
How to make your writing...
or too obvious, or just plain dumb, try jotting it down, anyway. What's obvious to you may not be to the next person. And the opposite of the dumbest idea might just turn out to be the smartest. What about all that dumb stuff that happens in real life? Have you ever noticed how much comedy revolves around things
Video examples
A roadmap to end aging PIPE...
we'll be denying those people an indefinite life span, and I consider that that is immoral. That's my answer to the overpopulation question. Right. So the next thing is, now why should we get a little bit more active on this? And the fundamental answer is that the pro-aging trance is not as dumb as it looks.
Video examples
Plankton, a Thank You...
I we eat the dumb Marvin then small fish eat us bigger animals eat them all the way up the food chain even the blue whale the biggest animal that's ever lived usually likes nothing more than a great mouth full of stupid krill what this means is no plankton no sea life no
Video examples
Kathryn Schulz: Don't...
and dumb decisions, of course. I do that hourly. But I had always felt like, look, you know, I made the best choice I could make given who I was then, given the information I had on hand. I learned a lesson from it. It somehow got me to where I am in life right now.
Video examples
The biology of gender,...
than the average elephant, but that doesn't mean the average man is three times dumber than an elephant or does it? There's a new wave of female neuroscientists that are finding important differences between female and male brains in neuron connectivity,
Video examples
Why kids need to learn...
and looking up at the great big world through their tiny little eyes, taking these seemingly complex ideas and simplifying them -- not dumbing them down, but homing in on the core concept. Gender is about how we feel and how we express ourselves.
Video examples
The Search for...
There was a secret message in her choreography. What had seemed to countless generations of observers to be nothing more than the meaningless spasmodic motions of a dumb animal was actually a complex message,
Video examples
Stop defining yourself...
swing open intuitions Spectrum's a largeness that she stepped into that changed her life and in the end of her life she said I found joy she was deaf dumb blind and brilliant that's all of
Video examples
The first secret of...
Our challenge is to wake up each day and say, "How can I experience the world better?" And if we do, maybe, just maybe, we can get rid of these dumb little stickers. Thank you very much.
Video examples
Why our IQ levels are...
they said that is the dumbest thing you've ever said. Who have you ever known who woke up in the morning -- that turned black? In other words, they were fixed in the concrete
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Taylor Swift
American Singer
It's human nature to not say everything that's on your mind at the time you think it. Because we fear saying something that people will laugh at, people will think is dumb. We're afraid of being embarrassed.
Quote examples
Jocko Willink
American
I remember, when I was a young guy in the SEAL teams, I was very afraid of making mistakes and looking stupid or doing dumb things and getting a bad reputation.
Quote examples
Zach Anner
American Comedian
The only two characters I can play convincingly are myself and a dumber and sweeter version of myself.
Quote examples
Keanu Reeves
Canadian Actor
I'm a meathead. I can't help it, man. You've got smart people and you've got dumb people.
Quote examples
Bill Lawrence
American Producer
I love television; I specifically love having a dumb character on a TV show.
Quote examples
George Lois
American Artist
If you think people are dumb, you'll spend a lifetime doing dumb work.
Quote examples
Peter McWilliams
American Writer
As the world gets dumber and dumber, I feel more and more at home.
Quote examples
Jason Momoa
American Actor
I've done a lot of dumb things in my life.
Quote examples
John Kennedy
American Lawyer
With all due respect, I am against dumb.
Quote examples
Alton Brown
American Entertainer
We're getting dumbed down, taste-wise.
Quote examples
Taylor Swift
American Singer
It's human nature to not say everything that's on your mind at the time you think it. Because we fear saying something that people will laugh at, people will think is dumb. We're afraid of being embarrassed.
Quote examples
Jocko Willink
American
I remember, when I was a young guy in the SEAL teams, I was very afraid of making mistakes and looking stupid or doing dumb things and getting a bad reputation.
Quote examples
Zach Anner
American Comedian
The only two characters I can play convincingly are myself and a dumber and sweeter version of myself.
Quote examples
Keanu Reeves
Canadian Actor
I'm a meathead. I can't help it, man. You've got smart people and you've got dumb people.
Quote examples
Bill Lawrence
American Producer
I love television; I specifically love having a dumb character on a TV show.
Quote examples
George Lois
American Artist
If you think people are dumb, you'll spend a lifetime doing dumb work.
Quote examples
Peter McWilliams
American Writer
As the world gets dumber and dumber, I feel more and more at home.
Quote examples
Jason Momoa
American Actor
I've done a lot of dumb things in my life.
Quote examples
John Kennedy
American Lawyer
With all due respect, I am against dumb.
Quote examples
Alton Brown
American Entertainer
We're getting dumbed down, taste-wise.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension