stupid
HighInformal to neutral; can be offensive when applied to people.
Definition
Meaning
Having or showing a lack of intelligence, common sense, or good judgment.
Used to describe something pointless, annoying, or absurd; can also express frustration or dismissal.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries emotional charge (annoyance, contempt); weaker than 'idiotic' but stronger than 'silly'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning; 'stupid' is common in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more acceptable as a mild expletive in AmE ("That's so stupid!") but equally pejorative when describing a person.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It is/was stupid of someone to do somethingThat's a stupid thing to sayHe felt stupid about itVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Stupid is as stupid does”
- “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Avoided in formal reports; may appear in informal critiques ("a stupid decision cost us the contract").
Academic
Rare in scholarly writing; considered imprecise and judgmental.
Everyday
Common in casual speech to express frustration or mock minor errors.
Technical
Not used in technical descriptions; replaced with terms like 'suboptimal' or 'erroneous'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Don't stupid about with the wiring.
- He stupided his way into trouble.
American English
- He stupided out and forgot his keys.
- Stop stupiding around!
Examples
By CEFR Level
- That film was stupid.
- I made a stupid mistake.
- It was stupid of me to leave my phone at home.
- He felt stupid when he realised his error.
- The new policy is economically stupid and socially divisive.
- She gave him a look of stupid contempt.
- The argument devolved into a stupid exchange of personal insults.
- His stubbornness was not just misguided; it was monumentally stupid.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STUdent PIDdling away time instead of studying – a stupid choice.
Conceptual Metaphor
STUPIDITY IS SLOWNESS / LACK OF LIGHT ("dense", "dim", "slow on the uptake").
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid overusing 'stupid' for 'глупый' in formal contexts; consider 'foolish' or 'unwise'.
- Russian 'тупой' can mean 'blunt' physically; English 'stupid' is only mental/behavioral.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'stupid' as a noun in formal writing ("He is a stupid") – use 'a stupid person'.
- Confusing 'stupid' with 'stubborn' (упрямый).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is a common collocation with 'stupid'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be, especially when directed at a person. In casual contexts among friends, it may be used lightly about actions or ideas.
'Silly' is milder and often suggests playful foolishness, while 'stupid' implies a more serious lack of intelligence or judgment.
Informally and non-standardly, yes (e.g., 'Don't stupid around'), but it's not accepted in formal writing.
Use modifiers like 'a bit', 'rather', or choose synonyms like 'unwise', 'foolish', or 'not very smart'.