SIMPLETON

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person lacking intelligence or common sense

Synonyms:

simple; simpleton

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("simpleton" is a kind of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "simpleton"):

twerp; twirp; twit (someone who is regarded as contemptible)

subnormal (a person of less than normal intelligence)

dolt; dullard; pillock; poor fish; pudden-head; pudding head; stupe; stupid; stupid person (a person who is not very bright)

lame; square (someone who doesn't understand what is going on)

space cadet (someone who seems unable to respond appropriately to reality (as if under the influence of some narcotic drug))

sheep (a timid defenseless simpleton who is readily preyed upon)

schnook; shnook ((Yiddish) a gullible simpleton more to be pitied than despised)

schlep; schlepper; shlep; shlepper ((Yiddish) an awkward and stupid person)

schlemiel; shlemiel ((Yiddish) a dolt who is a habitual bungler)

forgetful person; scatterbrain (a flighty and disorganized person)

nincompoop; ninny; poop (a stupid foolish person)

nebbech; nebbish ((Yiddish) a timid unfortunate simpleton)

idiot savant (person who is mentally retarded in general but who displays remarkable aptitude in some limited field (usually involving memory))

changeling; cretin; half-wit; idiot; imbecile; moron; retard (a person of subnormal intelligence)

fool; muggins; sap; saphead; tomfool (a person who lacks good judgment)

boob; booby; dope; dumbbell; dummy; pinhead (an ignorant or foolish person)

dingbat (a silly empty-headed person)

dimwit; doofus; half-wit; nitwit (a stupid incompetent person)

airhead (a flighty scatterbrained simpleton)

Credits

Context examples:

The fears of the sister have added to the weakness of the woman; but she is by no means a simpleton in general.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

“Here, the poor fool has been begging and praying about handing over some of her money—because she has got too much of it. A simpleton!”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

This was obliged to be repeated before it could be believed; and Mr. Knightley actually looked red with surprize and displeasure, as he stood up, in tall indignation, and said, Then she is a greater simpleton than I ever believed her.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I had a dislike to her mother always; for she was my husband's only sister, and a great favourite with him: he opposed the family's disowning her when she made her low marriage; and when news came of her death, he wept like a simpleton.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

When the dancing recommenced, however, and Darcy approached to claim her hand, Charlotte could not help cautioning her in a whisper, not to be a simpleton, and allow her fancy for Wickham to make her appear unpleasant in the eyes of a man ten times his consequence.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Then the old cook scolded and said: “You simpletons, you should have cut the rose-bush in two, and have broken off the rose and brought it home with you; go, and do it at once.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Catherine trembled at the emphasis with which he spoke, and sat pale and breathless, in a most humble mood, concerned for his children, and detesting old chests; and the general, recovering his politeness as he looked at her, spent the rest of his time in scolding his daughter for so foolishly hurrying her fair friend, who was absolutely out of breath from haste, when there was not the least occasion for hurry in the world: but Catherine could not at all get over the double distress of having involved her friend in a lecture and been a great simpleton herself, till they were happily seated at the dinner-table, when the general's complacent smiles, and a good appetite of her own, restored her to peace.