Nincompoop
noun
A foolish or stupid person.
Don't be such a nincompoop, you should know the difference between right and wrong.
Often appears as...
- complete nincompoop
- such a nincompoop
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A foolish or stupid person.
Don't be such a nincompoop, you should know the difference between right and wrong.
Often appears as...
- complete nincompoop
- such a nincompoop
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Colloquial Use
‘Nincompoop’ is casual and often humorous. Not suited for formal situations.
My brother acts like a complete nincompoop during family gatherings.
Pro Tip 2/3Mild Insult
Expresses annoyance or playful teasing, but isn't a harsh insult.
When you mixed up the files, you were being such a nincompoop!
Pro Tip 3/3Archaic Awareness
Be aware it's an old-fashioned term and might not be widely understood by young people.
Grandpa called me a nincompoop; it took a while to understand what he meant.
Pro Tip 1/3Colloquial Use
‘Nincompoop’ is casual and often humorous. Not suited for formal situations.
My brother acts like a complete nincompoop during family gatherings.
Pro Tip 2/3Mild Insult
Expresses annoyance or playful teasing, but isn't a harsh insult.
When you mixed up the files, you were being such a nincompoop!
Pro Tip 3/3Archaic Awareness
Be aware it's an old-fashioned term and might not be widely understood by young people.
Grandpa called me a nincompoop; it took a while to understand what he meant.
Pro Tip 1/3Colloquial Use
‘Nincompoop’ is casual and often humorous. Not suited for formal situations.
My brother acts like a complete nincompoop during family gatherings.
Pro Tip 2/3Mild Insult
Expresses annoyance or playful teasing, but isn't a harsh insult.
When you mixed up the files, you were being such a nincompoop!
Pro Tip 3/3Archaic Awareness
Be aware it's an old-fashioned term and might not be widely understood by young people.
Grandpa called me a nincompoop; it took a while to understand what he meant.
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Quote examples
Peter Guber
American Producer
My mom used to tell me stories at night, read books to me - and I read 'em over and over and over again. And you know what I learned from that? I went back and looked at everything - Why do I like reading the same stories over and over and over again? What, was I some kind of nincompoop? No - the narrative gave me connection with my mom.
Quote examples
Roger Waters
British Musician
Because a lot of people are hurting economically and being shafted by the very wealthy, it's been possible here in the United States of America to organize them and persuade them that to elect a nincompoop like Donald Trump is actually in their best interest. When clearly it isn't.
Quote examples
Seymour Hersh
American Journalist
I have this sort of heuristic view that journalism, we possibly offer hope because the world is clearly run by total nincompoops more than ever... Not that journalism is always wonderful - it's not - but at least we offer some way out, some integrity.
Quote examples
Kristin Scott Thomas
English Actress
I mean, if you're being directed very precisely by somebody who has admiration and who's really smart, it's great. If you're being told what to do by a nincompoop - and luckily that hasn't happened very often - it can be very frustrating.
Quote examples
Harry Anderson
American Actor
I created this character that I still have of a guy who is a little bit of a nincompoop - I'm poking fun at street hustlers. I didn't quite make as much money as one would gambling, but it was a lot safer.
Quote examples
Molly Ivins
American Journalist
Am I the only person covering politics who ever noticed that Newt Gingrich is actually a nincompoop?
Quote examples
Zoe Ball
Nincompoop is such a brilliantly satisfying word.
Quote examples
Peter Guber
American Producer
My mom used to tell me stories at night, read books to me - and I read 'em over and over and over again. And you know what I learned from that? I went back and looked at everything - Why do I like reading the same stories over and over and over again? What, was I some kind of nincompoop? No - the narrative gave me connection with my mom.
Quote examples
Roger Waters
British Musician
Because a lot of people are hurting economically and being shafted by the very wealthy, it's been possible here in the United States of America to organize them and persuade them that to elect a nincompoop like Donald Trump is actually in their best interest. When clearly it isn't.
Quote examples
Seymour Hersh
American Journalist
I have this sort of heuristic view that journalism, we possibly offer hope because the world is clearly run by total nincompoops more than ever... Not that journalism is always wonderful - it's not - but at least we offer some way out, some integrity.
Quote examples
Kristin Scott Thomas
English Actress
I mean, if you're being directed very precisely by somebody who has admiration and who's really smart, it's great. If you're being told what to do by a nincompoop - and luckily that hasn't happened very often - it can be very frustrating.
Quote examples
Harry Anderson
American Actor
I created this character that I still have of a guy who is a little bit of a nincompoop - I'm poking fun at street hustlers. I didn't quite make as much money as one would gambling, but it was a lot safer.
Quote examples
Molly Ivins
American Journalist
Am I the only person covering politics who ever noticed that Newt Gingrich is actually a nincompoop?
Quote examples
Zoe Ball
Nincompoop is such a brilliantly satisfying word.
Example 1 of 7
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