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Meaning & use

half-witted

adjective·Advancedoffensivedisapproving

Last updated

UK/ˌhɑːf ˈwɪtɪd/
US/ˌhæf ˈwɪtɪd/
Usage warning: this word is offensive and disapproving. It can hurt or insult people. Learn to recognise it, but avoid using it about anyone.

Meanings

  1. adjectivenot comparableoffensivedisapproving

    Having very little intelligence; stupid or foolish.

    Grammar: Used as a plain adjective before a noun or after a linking verb; it is not usually used with 'more' or 'most'.

    Patterns

    • a half-witted person
    • a half-witted idea
    • be half-witted

    He made a half-witted remark that embarrassed everyone at the table.

    She called the plan half-witted because it ignored all the obvious risks.

    The villain in the story is portrayed as half-witted and easily tricked.

  2. adjectivenot comparableoffensivedisapproving

    Showing a lack of good judgment or sense; silly and impractical.

    Grammar: Describes actions, plans, or ideas rather than people; still insulting.

    Patterns

    • a half-witted scheme
    • half-witted behavior

    Quitting your job without another offer is a half-witted move.

    Their half-witted attempt to fix the machine only made it worse.

Common combinations

half-witted remark
His half-witted remark about the weather made no sense at all.
half-witted idea
That half-witted idea would cost us a fortune and achieve nothing.
half-witted behavior
The teacher was tired of their half-witted behavior in class.
half-witted scheme
The police quickly saw through the half-witted scheme to rob the bank.
look half-witted
He looked half-witted standing there with his mouth open.

Synonyms and how they differ

stupid
Stupid is a more general and slightly less formal insult; half-witted suggests a specific lack of mental sharpness and is often used in a literary or old-fashioned way.
foolish
Foolish often describes unwise actions rather than a person's intelligence, and it can be less harsh than half-witted.
dim-witted
Dim-witted is very close in meaning but is slightly less common and can sound more old-fashioned.
simple-minded
Simple-minded can mean lacking intelligence or being naive, but it is often used in a less aggressive way than half-witted.

Opposites

intelligentcleversmart

Word family

half-wit noun
A stupid or foolish person; the noun from which the adjective is formed.
wit noun
The ability to think quickly and cleverly; mental sharpness.

Commonly confused: half-witted or half-hearted?

half-witted vs half-hearted

Half-hearted means lacking enthusiasm or effort, not lacking intelligence. A half-hearted attempt is one done without real interest, while a half-witted person is considered stupid.

Practice

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