dunce

[ duhns ]

noun

1. a dull-witted, stupid, or ignorant person; dolt.

   Synonyms: ninny, nincompoop, simpleton, ignoramus, blockhead, numbskull, dullard

dunce

/ dʌns /

noun

1. a person who is stupid or slow to learn

Derived Forms

• ˈdunceˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• dunci·cal duncish adjective
• duncish·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of dunce¹

1520–30; after John Duns Scotus, whose writings were attacked by the humanists as foolish

Word History and Origins

Origin of dunce¹

C16: from Dunses or Dunsmen, term of ridicule applied to the followers of John Duns Scotus , especially by 16th-century humanists

Example Sentences

It’s about as academically relevant to today’s students as Sadie Hawkins Day, and as necessary as a dunce cap.

From Los Angeles Times

If you do think that he could, please step forward and claim your complimentary dunce cap, and infuse it with your own naivete.

From Salon

Ironically, she was punished in school for not being able to keep quiet and put in a corner with a dunce cap on her head.

From Los Angeles Times

But, he said, the rise of Reagan, whom he considered at the time to be an “amiable dunce, and my view hasn’t changed,” made him rethink that decision.

From Washington Post

“Now we have this clown car of a government, a parade of dunces.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clodpoll