Dumb

/dʌm/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A person who is unable to speak.

The organization works to aid dumb individuals in expressing themselves.

A term historically used to describe someone who is mute, often considered offensive.

In the past, many people labeled those who could not speak as dumb.

adjective

Unable to speak; lacking the power of speech.

The child was born dumb and communicated using sign language.

Lacking intelligence or good judgment; foolish.

It was a dumb decision to invest all her savings in that risky project.

Annoyed with oneself or showing contempt for oneself; foolish in a way that comes from vanity.

I felt so dumb for not studying more before the exam.

Temporarily incapable of speaking, especially due to shock.

After hearing the unexpected news, she was left dumb for a moment.

Middle English, from Old English 'dumb', meaning 'silent, mute'.

dumb as a rock

extremely stupid or unintelligent.

dumb down

to simplify something so that it can be understood by a less knowledgeable audience.

dumb luck

good fortune that is unexpected or unearned.

mute

unable to speak; silent.

idiot

a foolish or stupid person.

Stupid or foolish.

That idea is just dumb.

Something drastically wrong or malfunctioning.

My phone is acting dumb today.