Word
dopey
US/ˈdoʊpi/
UK/dˈəʊpi/
Definition
adj. feeling sleepy or unable to think clearly, often because of medicine or lack of sleep. It can also describe someone who is acting a bit silly or foolish in a harmless way.
adj. characterised by a state of mental lethargy, confusion, or sluggishness, often as a side effect of medication or exhaustion. In a secondary sense, it describes a person or action that is mildly foolish or simple-minded.
Examples
“The medicine made me feel a bit dopey and tired.”
“He gave a dopey grin after waking up from his long afternoon nap, still not quite sure where he was.”
“While the plot was somewhat dopey and predictable, the film's charming lead performances managed to win over even the most cynical critics.”
Examples
simple
“The medicine made me feel a bit dopey and tired.”
contextual
“He gave a dopey grin after waking up from his long afternoon nap, still not quite sure where he was.”
complex
“While the plot was somewhat dopey and predictable, the film's charming lead performances managed to win over even the most cynical critics.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dopey” in context.
Verb
01. dopey expression
“She wore a dopey expression after waking up from the anesthesia.”
adj + noun
02. dopey smile
“He had a dopey smile on his face as he daydreamed about his vacation.”
adj + noun
03. feel dopey
“I always feel dopey for an hour or two after taking a midday nap.”
verb + adj
04. look dopey
“The dog had a habit of tilting its head and looking dopey when it wanted a treat.”
verb + adj
05. make dopey
“The heat and the heavy lunch made everyone feel a bit dopey.”
verb + adj
Adjective
06. distinctly dopey
“The medication left her feeling distinctly dopey for the rest of the afternoon.”
adv + adj
07. slightly dopey
“He gave a slightly dopey grin when he realized he was in the wrong room.”
adv + adj
Noun
08. bit dopey
“I'm still a bit dopey from the cough syrup I took last night.”
noun + adj
09. have a dopey look
“The puppy had a dopey look that made everyone in the room laugh.”
10. render someone dopey
“The lack of sleep had rendered him completely dopey by the time the meeting started.”
Usage
Often follows linking verbs like 'feel', 'look', or 'seem'.
Real-World Examples
“Endeavoring to bring our researches up to date, we learn that "dopey" is still popular and that "stupid" and "rat" are terms currently in vogue among well-brought-up little boys and girls.” “She’s being wronged again — belittled and sidelined while the dopey guys in charge are letting Allison run around in her gray suit and play spy again.” “What’s bittersweet about all this is that Mr. Cage remains an insistently watchable screen presence, as even this dopey movie proves.” Etymology
From dope, a stupid person, + -y. The term is first recorded in 1896, an extension of the 19th-century Americanism for a slow-witted individual.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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