clueless
- 01 B1 Intermediate
having no knowledge or understanding about a situation; not knowing what to do.
lacking knowledge, understanding, or social awareness; often used to describe someone who is completely oblivious to their surroundings or a specific topic.
Simple“He was completely clueless about how to fix the broken sink.”
In context“Despite having worked there for three months, he remained entirely clueless regarding the company's internal filing procedures.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'about'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
having no clues or information to help solve a puzzle or problem.
literally lacking any physical or informational clues; used in contexts like detective work or puzzle-solving.
Simple“The detectives were clueless until they found the hidden camera.”
In context“The investigators were left clueless after the rain washed away any potential footprints from the crime scene.”
Synonyms
From clue + -less.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.