dumb
dumb Lexical Profile
dumb Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
(Informal) Lacking intelligence, good judgment, or common sense; foolish or stupid.
"Making an investment without reading the financial reports first was a dumb mistake."
Temporarily unable or unwilling to speak, especially because of shock, astonishment, or fear.
"The unexpected announcement left the entire audience struck dumb with amazement."
(Dated, often offensive when applied to people) Permanently lacking the power of human speech, either as a physical disability or naturally as an animal.
"The shelter was founded in the nineteenth century to protect dumb animals from cruelty."
(Of a computer terminal, device, or weapon) Lacking an independent processor, network connectivity, or automated guidance system.
"In the early days of mainframes, employees entered data using dumb terminals connected to a central server."
• verb
To make something simpler and easier to understand in a way that reduces its quality, accuracy, or intellectual depth (usually used with 'down').
"The publisher asked the author not to dumb down the scientific explanations for the general public."
To make silent or deprive of speech (archaic or literary).
"A sudden wave of awe dumbed the crowd as the eclipse reached totality."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to a person with a speech disability, 'dumb' is now considered outdated and offensive; 'mute' or 'nonverbal' should be used instead. In everyday informal usage, it primarily means 'foolish' or 'stupid'.
• Rhymes for dumb
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'dumb', meaning 'silent' or 'unable to speak', derived from Proto-Germanic '*dumbaz' (cognate with Old Norse 'dumbr' and German 'dumm'). The sense 'foolish or stupid' developed in early modern English via the influence of cognate German and Dutch terms.