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Definition of oafishness

oafishness

/ˈoʊfɪʃnəs/
oaf · ish · ness
Adverb:oafishly
•
Adjective:oafish
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oafishness Lexical Profile

oafishness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The quality or state of being clumsy, slow-witted, or unrefined in manner and behavior.

Example

"The character's initial oafishness gradually gave way to genuine warmth and unexpected wisdom."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for oafishness
Antonyms
View all antonyms for oafishness

• Nearby Words

oaf
oafish
oafishly
oafishness
oak
oaked
oaken

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in English from 'oafish' and the suffix '-ness'. The root 'oaf' (originally 'auf' in the early 17th century) derives from Old Norse 'álfr' (elf), originally referring to a goblin's changeling child left in place of a human infant and hence a simpleton.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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