pointy-headed

[ poin-tee-hed-id ]

adjective

, Slang: Usually Disparaging.

1. stupid; idiotic.
2. intellectual, especially in a self-important or impractical way.

Other Words From

• pointy-head noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pointy-headed¹

An Americanism dating back to 1970–75

Example Sentences

To baldly paraphrase Oliver Wendell Holmes, three generations of pointy-headed lawyers is enough.

From Slate

Conservatives and business lobbyists commonly dismiss concern about the fate of ostensibly unimportant species as pointy-headed liberal hand-wringing.

From Los Angeles Times

With his tiny head and rumpled feathers, Tuffy appeared like an ungroomed, pointy-headed bichon frisé next to Lola, who seemed more Rottweiler.

From Los Angeles Times

But to average Republicans he sounds like some pointy-headed perfesser.

From Salon

Of course, people who want to believe that sentient artificial intelligence is possible will ignore me, but I tend to be skeptical of the idea for one important, if pointy-headed, reason: Intelligence is the result of, not the cause of, sentience.

From Salon