half-witted

[ haf-wit-id, hahf- ]

adjective

1. feeble-minded.
2. foolish; stupid.

Other Words From

• half-witted·ly adverb
• half-witted·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of half-witted¹

First recorded in 1635–45

Example Sentences

Is it wise to build machines that might one day become smarter than us, and then decide to dispense with their half-witted creators?

From Washington Post

Back in the days when The Simpsons was worth watching, half-witted actor Troy McClure proudly told us he had starred in a self-help video called 'Get Confident, Stupid'.

From BBC

Her mind was so nimble and she was so quick to learn that her ability should have been obvious even to the most half-witted of parents.

From Literature

Out of what Infowars said were hundreds of submissions, my video — a half-witted, conspiratorial glance at the creation and function of the Federal Reserve — made it to the final round.

From New York Times

While a bit of a stretch, this was in keeping with the president’s long habit of half-witted ad hominems.

From Washington Post