SIMPLETON

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does simpleton mean? 

• SIMPLETON (noun)
  The noun SIMPLETON has 1 sense:

1. a person lacking intelligence or common sense

  Familiarity information: SIMPLETON used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SIMPLETON (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person lacking intelligence or common sense

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

simple; simpleton

Hypernyms ("simpleton" is a kind of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "simpleton"):

forgetful person; scatterbrain (a flighty and disorganized person)

twerp; twirp; twit (someone who is regarded as contemptible)

subnormal (a person of less than normal intelligence)

dolt; dullard; pillock; poor fish; pudden-head; pudding head; stupe; stupid; stupid person (a person who is not very bright)

lame; square (someone who doesn't understand what is going on)

space cadet (someone who seems unable to respond appropriately to reality (as if under the influence of some narcotic drug))

sheep (a timid defenseless simpleton who is readily preyed upon)

schnook; shnook ((Yiddish) a gullible simpleton more to be pitied than despised)

schlep; schlepper; shlep; shlepper ((Yiddish) an awkward and stupid person)

schlemiel; shlemiel ((Yiddish) a dolt who is a habitual bungler)

airhead (a flighty scatterbrained simpleton)

nincompoop; ninny; poop (a stupid foolish person)

nebbech; nebbish ((Yiddish) a timid unfortunate simpleton)

idiot savant (person who is mentally retarded in general but who displays remarkable aptitude in some limited field (usually involving memory))

changeling; cretin; half-wit; idiot; imbecile; moron; retard (a person of subnormal intelligence)

fool; muggins; sap; saphead; tomfool (a person who lacks good judgment)

boob; booby; dope; dumbbell; dummy; pinhead (an ignorant or foolish person)

dingbat (a silly empty-headed person)

dimwit; doofus; half-wit; nitwit (a stupid incompetent person)

 Context examples 

Yes, simpleton as I was!—but I am quite ashamed of it now, and wish I could forget as easily as I can burn them.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I have been a blind simpleton, said he, bitterly, It's my folly that has brought you all into this trouble.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

If I can perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton, indeed, not to discover it too.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

You simpleton, said the eldest, you are always afraid; have you forgotten how many kings’ sons have already watched in vain?

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

If I could do that, simpleton, where would the danger be?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Psha! My dear creature, she replied, do not think me such a simpleton as to be always wanting to confine him to my elbow.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

A poor fellow with a craze, sir, said Mr. Dick, a simpleton, a weak-minded person—present company, you know! striking himself again, may do what wonderful people may not do.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Her start was perceptible only to herself; but she instantly felt that she was the greatest simpleton in the world, the most unaccountable and absurd!

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

She is not such a simpleton.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

But the other bird sneered at him for being a poor simpleton, who did all the hard work, while the other two stayed at home and had a good time of it.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)