stupid
gb/stˈupɪd/ us/stˈupɪd/
A2
English
~ 2600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
informal
A2
property
1
lacking intelligence or sense
Not smart; showing bad thinking or poor understanding.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is stupid
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'stupid' with 'silly', but 'stupid' is stronger and can be insulting.
Synonyms
dumb (Informal and often humorous or mild; also used for temporary foolishness.)
|
foolish (Suggests bad judgment rather than low intelligence.)
Antonyms
smart (General opposite meaning intelligent or clever.)
|
wise (Opposite in the sense of showing good judgment.)
Collocations
stupid idea
|stupid mistake
|stupid question
|stupid behavior
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It was stupid to leave your phone on the bus.
- She made a stupid mistake on the test.
- I felt stupid after forgetting his name again.
- That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.
Learner examples
- He made a stupid mistake.
- This is a stupid idea.
- I feel stupid when I can't answer.
- The movie was stupid but funny.
adjective
B1
property
2
annoying or pointless
Boring or not useful, making you annoyed.
Usage pattern:
[something] is stupid
Synonyms
ridiculous (Highlights that something is unreasonable or laughable.)
|
pointless (Focuses on lack of purpose or usefulness.)
Antonyms
reasonable (Opposite in the sense of being fair and sensible.)
|
useful (Opposite in the sense of having a purpose or benefit.)
Collocations
stupid rule
|stupid game
|stupid law
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This stupid rule makes no sense at all.
- I hate this stupid game—it’s impossible to win.
- The new policy is just stupid and unfair.
Learner examples
- This is a stupid rule.
- That was a stupid game.
- The law is stupid.
adjective
B2
state
3
dazed or unable to think clearly
Not able to think well for a short time, because of shock or being very tired.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is stupid with [emotion/state]
Synonyms
dazed (Suggests confusion and reduced awareness, often physical or emotional.)
|
stupefied (More formal; emphasizes being stunned into inaction.)
Antonyms
alert (Opposite in the sense of being fully aware and responsive.)
Collocations
stupid with shock
|stupid with fear
Themes
emotions
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He stood there, stupid with fear.
- She was stupid with shock after hearing the news.
- I was stupid with tiredness after working all night.
Learner examples
- He was stupid with fear.
- She was stupid with shock.
- I felt stupid with tiredness.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stupid
IPA
GB/stˈupɪd/
US/stˈupɪd/
Syllables & stress
stu - pid (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (stu)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: stupid
- Comparative: stupider
- Superlative: stupidest
Word family
Forms
stupider
adjective
stupidest
adjective
Core family
stupidity
noun B2
stupidly
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
Expressions
play stupid
1/plˈeɪ stˈupɪd/
fixed phrase
informal
pretend not to understand
To act like you do not know something so you do not have to answer or do something.
Examples
- Don’t play stupid—you know exactly what I mean.
- She played stupid when they asked about the missing money.
stupid grin
1/stˈupɪd ɡɹˈɪn/
fixed phrase
informal
silly-looking smile
A smile that looks silly or foolish.
Examples
- He just sat there with a stupid grin on his face.
- She gave me a stupid grin after spilling the drink.
stupid question
1/stˈupɪd kwˈɛst͡ʃən/
fixed phrase
foolish or obvious question
A question that seems silly or too simple to the person hearing it.
Examples
- That’s a stupid question—of course I want to go!
- He asked a stupid question about where the sun goes at night.