From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstupidstu‧pid1 /ˈstjuːpɪd $ ˈstuː-/ ●●● S1 W3 adjective 1 STUPID/NOT SENSIBLEshowing a lack of good sense or good judgment SYN silly stupid mistakes That was a stupid thing to say. I can’t believe Kate was stupid enough to get involved in this.stupid idea/question Whose stupid idea was this? It was stupid of me to lose my temper.RegisterStupid is very frequent in spoken English, but in written English people usually prefer to use more a formal alternative, such as foolish or unwise, which sounds more polite.2 STUPID/NOT INTELLIGENThaving a low level of intelligence, so that you have difficulty learning or understanding things He understands – he’s not stupid. I couldn’t do it, and it made me feel stupid.3 spokenANNOY used when you are talking about something or someone that makes you annoyed or impatient I can’t get this stupid radio to work. What is that stupid idiot doing?4 → stupid with cold/sleep/shock etc —stupidly adverb I stupidly agreed to organize the party.THESAURUSstupid showing a total lack of good sense or good judgment. Stupid sounds very strong and is often used when you are annoyed or strongly criticizing someone’s behaviourI wish you’d stop asking stupid questions.It was stupid of me to leave the door unlocked.Well, if you’re stupid enough to skate on the lake, you deserve to fall in.silly doing or saying things that are not sensible or serious, and that may make you feel embarrassed later. Silly sounds much gentler than stupida silly mistakeDon’t be so silly! There’s nothing wrong with you.I think you’re silly to worry so much about your hair.daft informal not sensible, often in a way that is also amusingIs this another of your daft ideas?Don’t be daft! Of course you’re not too old to go clubbing.dumb informal especially American English stupida dumb questionHe was dumb enough to believe her.Oh, I just did the dumbest thing back there, I forgot my purse.foolish stupid. Foolish sounds rather formal and is used mainly in written English. The usual words to use in everyday English are silly or stupidIt was a foolish thing to say.They did not want to look foolish.It was all a foolish dream.I think the board of directors made a foolish choice that it will later regret.unwise formal done without thinking carefully enough about the possible disadvantages that may resultShe knew the marriage was unwise.an unwise choice of words It would be very unwise to speculate. brave British English often humorous used when you think that what someone is planning or suggesting is certain to fail, but you do not want to say directly that they are behaving in a stupid wayThe leader of the opposition described it as ‘a brave decision.’I think he’s being very brave.very stupidcrazy not at all sensible or reasonable – used when you are very surprised by someone’s behaviour or what they have saidIan’s got some crazy plan to drive across Africa.She looked at me as if I was crazy!You’re crazy to think of hitch-hiking on your own.ridiculous extremely stupidYou look ridiculous in that hat.Some people spend a ridiculous amount of money on cars.It’s absolutely ridiculous to suggest that he would do something like that.absurd/ludicrous extremely stupid – used especially when an idea or situation seems strange or illogicalHow can a return ticket cost less than a single? It’s totally absurd!It was a ludicrous idea.Some of the objections to the theory are simply absurd.laughable so stupid that you cannot believe someone is telling the truth or being seriousThe accusations were almost laughable.a laughable suggestionIt would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious.
Examples from the Corpus
stupid• She is sometimes naive, but she's not stupid.• She talks to us as if we're completely stupid.• Maybe he thinks Wayne is big and ugly and greasy and stupid.• She could tell, instantly, that he was stupid.• This has got to be one of the most embarrassing film moments of the year -- sophomoric, self-congratulatory and stupid.• I was very drunk last night -- I hope I didn't do anything stupid.• The easy answer is, they were stupid, and it may be the real answer, too.• It was also extremely stupid, because it means she knows about it and so you can't blackmail me.• You stupid boy! I've told you not to play with matches!• Perhaps he had been stupid, but had he actually done any damage?• Well, if you're stupid enough to skate on the lake, you deserve to fall in.• The stupid gate won't open properly.• This is stupid - I don't want to play this game anymore.• I didn't say you were stupid, I said it was a stupid thing to do.• Withdraw the police from the area? I've never heard such a stupid idea!• Don't you call me a stupid idiot!• You'd have to be stupid not to take advantage of a great offer like this!• It was stupid of me to believe her of course, but I did.• But without the cricket intelligence, straight-talking is a stupid pastime.• It's only stupid people who believe in all that astrology mumbo-jumbo.• a stupid question• I have to stay late and finish this stupid report.• He's so stupid that he couldn't even find New York on the map.• We did a lot of stupid things in high school.• It was a stupid thought and she was not amused.• Poor Larry's too stupid to realize when you're making fun of him.stupid idea/question• And how many more times was he going to ask himself that stupid question?• I don't come barging in and upsetting my daughter with stupid questions.• It was, in one sense, a stupid question.• Sorry - I mean - I mean that it was a stupid question!• As the women talked and asked stupid questions about his novels he imagined putting them in the next one.• What on earth had made her ask a stupid question like that?• Sometimes she exasperated herself with the stupid ideas she had.• It just seemed such a stupid question that's all.stupidstupid2 noun spoken not polite an insulting way of talking to someone who you think is being stupidNo, stupid, don’t do it like that!Origin stupid1 (1500-1600) French stupide, from Latin stupidus, from stupere “to surprise extremely, stun” 