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Dullard Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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dullard

[ˈdʌlərd ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

person

A dull-witted or slow person; a person lacking intelligence or wit.

Synonyms

blockhead, dimwit, simpleton.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
dullard

Used to describe someone who is slow to understand or lacks sharpness, often in a dry or academic setting. Both slightly formal and mild in its tone.

  • He's such a dullard when it comes to grasping new concepts in the class.
  • The professor called him a dullard because he could not keep up with the lectures.
simpleton

Implied to describe someone with a lack of sophistication or intelligence in a somewhat old-fashioned or less harsh manner. Often conveys a sense of pity rather than anger.

  • He was treated like a simpleton due to his slow grasp of the situation.
  • Don't be so cruel; he's just a simpleton and doesn't know any better.
dimwit

Often used in informal settings to describe someone as not very smart or lacking intelligence. It is quite pejorative and mocking.

  • Only a dimwit would fall for such an obvious scam.
  • He was acting like a total dimwit at the party.
blockhead

Commonly used in more casual and everyday situations to describe someone who is perceived as stupid or obtuse. It is a harsher term and can be taken as quite insulting.

  • Stop being such a blockhead and listen to what I'm saying!
  • She called him a blockhead for not understanding the simple instructions.

Examples of usage

  • He was often mocked for being a dullard in school.
  • Don't be such a dullard, try to keep up with the conversation.
Context #2 | Noun

general

A person who is boring or uninteresting; lacking in excitement or animation.

Synonyms

bore, tedium.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
dullard

Use 'dullard' to refer to someone who is perceived as unintelligent or lacking in mental sharpness. It conveys a negative judgment about someone's mental abilities.

  • He's such a dullard, he couldn't solve the puzzle even after an hour.
bore

A 'bore' is someone or something that is dull and uninteresting, making people feel uninterested or tired. This can refer to both people and situations.

  • The lecture was such a bore that I almost fell asleep.
  • He's a bore who talks about the same thing over and over again.
tedium

Use 'tedium' to describe a state of being boring or monotonous. It often refers to activities or situations rather than people.

  • Filing paperwork all day is pure tedium.
  • The tedium of the long meeting was hard to endure.

Examples of usage

  • The presentation was so dull and uninspiring, the speaker came across as a dullard.
  • I couldn't bear another minute of his dullard conversation.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Literature

  • Various playwrights and authors in the 16th and 17th centuries used 'dullard' to criticize characters who were foolish or overly complacent.
  • Shakespeare often depicted dull-witted characters as comic relief, emphasizing their lack of cleverness in contrast to the more astute figures.
  • In modern literature, the term might appear satirically, highlighting not just ignorance but a certain stubbornness in attitudes.

Psychology

  • Dullness in intellect can sometimes relate to cognitive biases, where individuals may stick to familiar beliefs rather than engage with complex ideas.
  • Psychological studies suggest that social environments can foster dullness in individuals by discouraging critical thinking and curiosity.
  • The concept of 'intellectual humility' contrasts with the idea of being a dullard, suggesting that openness to new ideas can enhance intelligence.

Pop Culture

  • In various comedic films and TV shows, dullard characters often serve to highlight the intelligence or cleverness of protagonists, creating humorous dynamics.
  • The term has occasionally been used in political discourse to describe figures perceived as lacking depth or understanding in their arguments.
  • Dullard archetypes can also be found in animations and cartoons, where they provide context for clever characters to shine.

Origin of 'dullard'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'dullard' originated in the early 16th century from the word 'dull', which means slow or lacking sharpness.
  • It has roots in the Middle English word 'dull', combined with the suffix '-ard', often used to denote a person, similar to 'coward' or 'drunkard'.
  • The term was historically used to describe someone who was not only slow to understand but also lacking in liveliness or enthusiasm.

The word 'dullard' originated in the late 16th century and is derived from the Middle Dutch word 'dolle', meaning stupid or foolish. Over time, it evolved to refer to a person lacking intelligence or wit. The term has been used to describe individuals who are slow, boring, or uninteresting.

See also: dull, dullness, dully.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,138, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.