boneheaded

as in stupid
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily a product with a warning label that even the most boneheaded consumer should be able to understand

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of boneheaded The Soviet Union was struggling with the costs of boneheaded decisions such as the invasion of Afghanistan and the deployment of new and extremely threatening Soviet nuclear weapons in Europe. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 Even inspirational leaders make boneheaded calls, as with firing an innovative defense minister. — Max Boot, Washington Post, 20 July 2026 My most most boneheaded comment. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026 And there was always something frustrating, always kind of a boneheaded play or a draft pick or something that just kept us from [winning]. — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 14 June 2026 Vile’s shaggy-dog spirituality reaches new heights of beautiful, boneheaded simplicity on his latest. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2026 As anyone who watches nineties-era romantic comedies knows, there’s a fine line between charming overtures and boneheaded actions that result in deep psychological wounds. — Frederick Dreier, Outside, 11 Feb. 2026 Defensively, he has been known for making exceptional plays but also making boneheaded mistakes. — Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 Why sane people don’t run for office, a boneheaded move from an Arizona lawmaker and fallout from a Minnesota shooting. — Joanna Allhands, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boneheaded
Adjective
  • Trump’s super intelligence rebrand can ultimately be read in a couple ways, though arguably neither are particularly nuanced or incisive — just further indicative of the daily deluge of stupid.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Once upon a time, the idea that the world was growing stupider was mostly confined to the realm of dyspeptic reactionary polemic.
    — James Marriott, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • There are even times when an NFL coach will say or do something really dumb that makes news.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Our cybersecurity defenses were built for lone hackers and dumb swarms.
    — Michael Morris, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Because mRNA technology bypasses the slow process of growing viruses in eggs, mRNA manufacturing allows for later influenza strain selection and fast production, unlike traditional vaccines.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • After his sudden death in 1960, Olivetti began a slow decline and was eventually broken up and merged with a telecommunications company.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • That single choice unleashes a harrowing chain of strange and terrifying events in the dead of night, turning a simple gesture of kindness into a real-life nightmare.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Waffles and pimento Another enduring element of Chick-fil-A is its famously simple menu.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Boneheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boneheaded. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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