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Definition of dumbly

dumbly

/ˈdʌm.li/
dumb · ly
Adjective:dumb
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dumbly Lexical Profile

dumbly Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In a speechless, mute, or silent manner, often due to shock, grief, or astonishment.

Example

"Stunned by the sudden announcement, he merely nodded dumbly and walked out of the room."

2

In a stupid, foolish, or unintelligent manner.

Example

"She grinned dumbly after realizing she had locked her keys inside the car."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for dumbly

Word Nuance & Usage

In literary and formal contexts, "dumbly" most frequently means "silently" or "speechlessly" (as in "nodded dumbly"), whereas in informal conversation it usually means "stupidly" or "foolishly."

• Rhymes for dumbly

• Nearby Words

dumbfoundedness
dumbfoundingly
dumbhead
dumbly
dumbness
dumbo
dumbphone

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English dumblic (meaning "mute" or "silent"), formed from the Germanic root dumb combined with the adverbial suffix -ly; the sense of "foolishly" developed in the 19th century via influence from German dumm.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dumbly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dumbly
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