dunderhead

[ duhn-der-hed ]

noun

1. a dunce; blockhead; numbskull.

dunderhead

/ ˈdʌndəˌhɛd /

noun

1. a stupid or slow-witted person; dunce Also calleddunderpate

Derived Forms

• ˈdunderˌheadedness, noun
• ˈdunderˌheaded, adjective

Other Words From

• dunder·headed adjective
• dunder·headed·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dunderhead¹

1615–25; apparently < Dutch dunder ( kop ) numbskull ( dunder thunder + kop head) + head

Word History and Origins

Origin of dunderhead¹

C17: probably from Dutch donder thunder + head ; compare blockhead

Example Sentences

It actually appears that Eric Trump, despite his dunderhead reputation, was far more involved in running the place.

From Salon

The claim has been surprisingly popular even in more left-leaning media, likely because their audiences often prefer to see Trump framed as a dunderhead rather than as someone with the basic literacy skills to understand the value in, say, a document about U.S. defense capabilities.

From Salon

Adolf Hitler was described by a prominent magazine editor in 1930 as a "big mouth," a "half-insane rascal," a "pathetic dunderhead" and a "nowhere fool."

From Salon

Margot Asquith, wife of his first prime minister, described him as a “dunderhead.”

From Washington Post

Paula Murrihy’s Ruggiero is the easily swayed dunderhead who is entrapped by Alcina.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ass
• boob
• buffoon
• idiot
• jerk
• moron
• nitwit
• stooge
• sucker
• twit