English Reference

Word

dumber

Phoneticsdumb·er

US/ˈdəmɝ/

UK/dˈʌmɐ/

Definition

adj. less intelligent or more foolish than someone or something else. It is the comparative form of 'dumb'.

adj. the comparative form of 'dumb', indicating a lower level of intelligence or a greater degree of foolishness. Often used informally to describe poor decision-making.

Examples

“That was a dumber mistake than the last one.”

“He felt dumber after trying to explain the simple instructions to a group that clearly already understood them.”

“The sequel was criticized for being significantly dumber than the original film, relying on cheap physical gags rather than the clever wordplay that made the first one a success.”

Examples

simple

“That was a dumber mistake than the last one.”

contextual

“He felt dumber after trying to explain the simple instructions to a group that clearly already understood them.”

complex

“The sequel was criticized for being significantly dumber than the original film, relying on cheap physical gags rather than the clever wordplay that made the first one a success.”

Usage

Comparative form of the adjective 'dumb'; typically follows a linking verb or precedes a noun.

Pitfall

more dumber

dumber

Dumber is already a comparative form; adding 'more' is a double comparative error.

This entry

Level
A2 · Elementary
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference