Simpleton: meaning, definitions and examples

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simpleton

[ˈsɪmpl̩tən ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

naive person

A simpleton is a person who is lacking in common sense or intelligence, often seen as naive or foolish. This term is usually used in a derogatory manner to describe someone who is easily deceived or manipulated.

Synonyms

fool, idiot, naive person.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
simpleton	Use this word to describe someone who lacks the ability to understand complicated things. It might suggest innocence but can also imply lack of sophistication. It's not necessarily overly offensive but may be condescending. Despite being a simpleton, he had a heart of gold. They often treated him like a simpleton because he worked in manual labor.
fool	This term is more commonly used to describe someone who acts unwisely or makes poor decisions, often in a silly or irresponsible manner. It is harsher than 'simpleton' and usually carries a negative connotation. Only a fool would invest all their money in a single stock. Don't be a fool; double-check your work.
idiot	This word is very strong and offensive when used to describe someone. It implies a very low level of intelligence or common sense. It's best avoided in polite conversation due to its derogatory nature. Driving the wrong way down a one-way street makes you look like an idiot. He felt like an idiot after forgetting the meeting.
naive person	When someone is described as a naive person, it implies they lack experience, wisdom, or judgment. This term is milder and less offensive. It suggests innocence and often a generous or overly trusting nature. She's just a naive person who believes everyone is good. He lost a lot of money because he was a naive person who trusted easily.

Examples of usage

He was often taken advantage of due to being a simpleton.
Don't be such a simpleton and believe everything you hear.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

character in literature

In literature, a simpleton is a character archetype often portrayed as a foolish or gullible individual. This character type is commonly used for comic relief or as a contrast to more intelligent characters.

Synonyms

comic relief character, foolish character.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
simpleton	Use 'simpleton' when referring to someone who lacks intelligence or good judgment. This term can carry a slightly negative connotation. The village always saw Tom as a simpleton, never taking his opinions seriously. Despite being a simpleton, Anna had a heart of gold.
foolish character	Use 'foolish character' to describe someone in a story who often makes unwise decisions or acts in a silly manner. The foolish character in the play always got himself into trouble with his impulsive actions. She wrote her novel with a foolish character who kept tripping over his own feet.
comic relief character	Use 'comic relief character' when talking about a character in a story whose primary role is to provide humor and lighten the mood. In 'The Legend of Eldon', the comic relief character is a clumsy knight named Garlon. The movie was intense, but the comic relief character always came just in time to make everyone laugh.

Word

Description / Examples

simpleton

Use 'simpleton' when referring to someone who lacks intelligence or good judgment. This term can carry a slightly negative connotation.

The village always saw Tom as a simpleton, never taking his opinions seriously.
Despite being a simpleton, Anna had a heart of gold.

foolish character

Use 'foolish character' to describe someone in a story who often makes unwise decisions or acts in a silly manner.

The foolish character in the play always got himself into trouble with his impulsive actions.
She wrote her novel with a foolish character who kept tripping over his own feet.

comic relief character

Use 'comic relief character' when talking about a character in a story whose primary role is to provide humor and lighten the mood.

In 'The Legend of Eldon', the comic relief character is a clumsy knight named Garlon.
The movie was intense, but the comic relief character always came just in time to make everyone laugh.

Examples of usage

The simpleton in the story provided comic relief with his silly antics.
The simpleton's naive nature led to humorous situations in the plot.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from Middle French 'simpleton', where it meant 'fool' or 'simple-minded person'.
Rooted in the Latin word 'simplex', which means 'single' or 'without complexity', reflecting a straightforward nature.
First known use in English dates back to the 14th century, indicating a long-standing perception of simplicity linked to foolishness.

Literature

In various literary works, simpletons often serve as comic relief, highlighting the folly of more intelligent characters.
Fables and fairy tales frequently feature simpleton characters who unwittingly become heroes due to their innocent nature.
Notable works like 'Don Quixote' include simpleton-like characters, employing them to critique society's standards of wisdom.

Psychology

Studies on cognitive biases show that individuals perceived as simpletons often face unfair judgment, affecting self-esteem.
Social psychologists suggest that labeling someone as a simpleton can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, where they act in line with the label.
The 'Dunning-Kruger effect' explains how people with less knowledge in a field may overestimate their understanding, similar to a simpleton.

Pop Culture

Television shows often portray simpletons as loveable characters, making them relatable and endearing to audiences.
In cartoons and animated films, the simpleton character frequently gets into humorous mishaps, adding to the entertainment value.
The character of 'Forrest Gump' is often viewed through the lens of the simpleton trope, showing that innocence can coexist with wisdom.

Social Perception

Society often idealizes simplicity as a virtue, but the term 'simpleton' carries a pejorative connotation, implying foolishness.
Simpletons in social contexts may be underestimated, showcasing that ignorance can sometimes lead to unexpected wisdom.
Debates continue on the implications of labeling individuals as simpletons and its effects on their social and work dynamics.

Translations

Translations of the word "simpleton" in other languages:

🇵🇹 simplório

🇮🇳 मूर्ख

🇩🇪 Einfaltspinsel

🇮🇩 orang sederhana

🇺🇦 простак

🇵🇱 prostak

🇯🇵 単純者 (たんじゅんしゃ)

🇫🇷 simplet

🇪🇸 simplón

🇹🇷 saf

🇰🇷 단순한 사람 (dansunhan salam)

🇸🇦 بسيط

🇨🇿 prostý člověk

🇸🇰 prostáčik

🇨🇳 傻瓜 (shǎguā)

🇸🇮 preproščina

🇮🇸 einfallinn maður

🇰🇿 қарапайым адам

🇬🇪 უბრალო ადამიანი

🇦🇿 sadə insan

🇲🇽 simplón

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,741, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.

...
28738 effervescent
28739 schizoid
28740 sinker
28741 simpleton
28742 bangles
28743 stilling
28744 unluckily
...