stupidity

noun

stu̇-ˈpi-də-tē How to pronounce stupidity (audio)
Definition of stupiditynext
1
as in stupidness
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind the stupidity of the dialogue between the two romantic leads had movie audiences giggling uncontrollably

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2
as in insanity
a foolish act or idea the succession of stupidities by the company's owners was bound to result in bankruptcy

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3
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense leaving her bags unguarded inside the airport terminal was nothing but stupidity on her part

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stupidity His eventual dismissal in second-half stoppage time was an exercise in rash stupidity, crashing through Spain’s teenage center back Pau Cubarsi. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026 Here are the three reasons a good employee sits on a great AI discovery, and none of them is stupidity. — Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 The stupidity of losing his car was one thing; the cruelty of forcing her to make that choice was quite another. — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026 Is there a level of insanity, vitriol and stupidity that is infiltrating almost every aspect of our modern society, regardless of your political or religious views? — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stupidity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stupidity
  1. stupidness
  2. insanity
  3. nonsense
  4. dumbness
  5. idiocy
  6. silliness
  7. thickness
  8. absurdity
Noun
  • In an email to Krebs, Valadon claimed that the repo’s commit logs show that GitHub’s default protections against committing secrets—protections designed to protect unwitting or unskilled developers against exactly this kind of stupidness—had been disabled by the repo’s administrator.
    — Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026
Definition of stupidness
Noun
  • Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to three counts of murder in the killings of her children Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • While known as lacking criminal responsibility under Massachusetts law, the defense is more commonly referred to as not guilty by reason of insanity.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of insanity
Noun
  • The nonsense began last year as a stunt tied to a cryptocurrency group, but more recently has been linked to groups protesting league policies.
    — Greg Cote August 23, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026
  • This nonsense with Canada should have never gone into effect.
    — Ian Thomas, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of nonsense
Noun
  • The first 10 minutes are an incredible swirl of paranoia, alcoholism, and sluggish dumbness when Gould just needs to feed his cat.
    — Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
  • Unlike its sibling concepts of dumbness and idiocy, stupidity isn’t really a personality trait.
    — Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of dumbness
Noun
  • It’s been a classic staple over decades of British comedy, which from Basil Fawlty to David Brent has rejoiced in puncturing pomposity to reveal idiocy and incompetence.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The school board’s radical idiocy does not negate the state’s obligation to think about the longer haul — specifically, the structurally unbalanced budgets facing Chicago Public Schools as far as the eye can see.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of idiocy
Noun
  • Despite the silliness, the episode does feature some very emotional moments for Spock.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Yet despite this unease, they are also shown with occasional silliness and wit, as well as an unexpected strength to their paradoxically porcelain-like bodies.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of silliness
Noun
  • These two steaks are different cuts, sizes and thicknesses, but the goal remains the same.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • No tweak hits the ground without extensive testing, both with machinery and with athletes scrutinizing everything from grip strength to rubber thickness.
    — Tim Newcomb, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of thickness
Noun
  • In the special, Ahdoot takes on post-breakup fitness, foodie culture, dating, family and the absurdity of becoming a minor celebrity to children.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, the museum focuses on language, relationships, self-mockery, and life’s absurdities, with rakija served to visitors as the ultimate symbol of Balkan resilience.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of absurdity

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stupidity
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Cite this Entry

“Stupidity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stupidity. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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