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imbecile

noun
im·​be·​cile | \ ˈim-bÉ™-sÉ™l How to pronounce imbecile (audio) , -ËŒsil\

Definition of imbecile

1 : fool, idiot
2 dated, now offensive : a person affected with moderate mental retardation
Other Words from imbecile Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about imbecile

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Other Words from imbecile

imbecilic \ ËŒim-​bÉ™-​ˈsi-​lik How to pronounce imbecilic (audio) \ or imbecile adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms for imbecile

Synonyms

airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, bonehead, bubblehead, chowderhead, chucklehead, clodpoll (or clodpole), clot [British], cluck, clunk, cretin, cuddy (or cuddie) [British dialect], deadhead, dim bulb [slang], dimwit, dip, dodo, dolt, donkey, doofus [slang], dope, dork [slang], dullard, dum-dum, dumbbell, dumbhead, dummkopf, dummy, dunce, dunderhead, fathead, gander, golem, goof, goon, half-wit, hammerhead, hardhead, idiot, ignoramus, jackass, know-nothing, knucklehead, lamebrain, loggerhead [chiefly dialect], loon, lump, lunkhead, meathead, mome [archaic], moron, mug [chiefly British], mutt, natural, nimrod [slang], nincompoop, ninny, ninnyhammer, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, noddy, noodle, numskull (or numbskull), oaf, pinhead, prat [British], ratbag [chiefly Australian], saphead, schlub (also shlub) [slang], schnook [slang], simpleton, stock, stupe, stupid, thickhead, turkey, woodenhead, yahoo, yo-yo

Antonyms

brain, genius

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Examples of imbecile in a Sentence

He drank too much and started acting like a complete imbecile. only an imbecile would leave their car unlocked, with the keys in the ignition, and then be surprised when the vehicle was stolen

Recent Examples on the Web

 Evil is insolent and strong; beauty enchanting but rare; goodness very apt to be weak; folly very apt to be defiant; wickedness to carry the day; imbeciles to be in great places, people of sense in small, and mankind generally unhappy. — Sam Sacks, WSJ, "Sam Sacks on Henry James," 18 Nov. 2016 Hard to accept that these imbeciles represent the people in our government. — Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, "Everyone Hates Martin Shkreli. Everyone Is Missing the Point," 5 Feb. 2016 The casual fan assumes that the average professional basketball player is an imbecile. — Paul Shirley, Esquire, "A Player's Notes," 8 Feb. 2007

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'imbecile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of imbecile

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 2

History and Etymology for imbecile

French imbécile, noun, from adjective, weak, weak-minded, from Latin imbecillus

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