Moronic: meaning, definitions and examples

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moronic

 

[ məˈrɒnɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

intellectual capacity

The term 'moronic' describes an individual or behavior that is considered extremely foolish or lacking in sense. It is often used to express disdain for actions or ideas perceived to be markedly below average in intelligence. The word carries a strong negative connotation, emphasizing stupidity and ignorance. Its usage suggests a lack of critical thinking and sound judgment.

Synonyms

dull-witted, foolish, idiotic, senseless, stupid

Examples of usage

  • His moronic comments during the meeting surprised everyone.
  • It's moronic to ignore the evidence presented.
  • She made a moronic decision that cost her the job.

Translations

Translations of the word "moronic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 morônico

🇮🇳 मूर्खतापूर्ण

🇩🇪 moronisch

🇮🇩 moronik

🇺🇦 мурований

🇵🇱 moroniczny

🇯🇵 愚かな

🇫🇷 moronique

🇪🇸 morónico

🇹🇷 moronik

🇰🇷 바보 같은

🇸🇦 سخيف

🇨🇿 moronický

🇸🇰 moronický

🇨🇳 愚蠢的

🇸🇮 moroničen

🇮🇸 morónískur

🇰🇿 моралық

🇬🇪 მორონული

🇦🇿 moronik

🇲🇽 morónico

Etymology

The word 'moronic' originates from the Greek word 'moros', meaning 'foolish'. The term was first coined in the early 20th century, specifically in the 1910s, as a medical term to describe individuals with a mental age of 8 to 12 years. This classification was part of the early efforts in psychology and intelligence testing, where individuals were categorized based on their cognitive abilities. Over time, 'moronic' evolved from its clinical roots into a more colloquial term that is commonly used in everyday language to denigrate someone's intelligence or actions. It reflects a societal tendency to label people or behaviors perceived as less intelligent, illustrating how language and perception of mental capacity can evolve. The introduction of the word into popular vernacular also indicates changing attitudes towards mental health and intelligence, moving from clinical definitions to broader, often derogatory, uses.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,683, 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.