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stupid

adj. · n. · adv.
US //ˈstupəd// UK //stjˈuːpɪd// stupid
  1. 1 not intelligent (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    lacking intelligence or common sense.

    lacking intelligence, common sense, or the ability to reason effectively.

    Example

    I made a stupid mistake and forgot my keys in the car.

    Example

    The decision to ignore the safety warnings was incredibly stupid and led to a series of avoidable accidents.

    Pitfall
    It was a stupid of me to forget.
    It was stupid of me to forget.

    Do not use 'a' before 'stupid' when it is an adjective describing a person's action.

  2. 2 annoying or boring (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    used to describe something that is annoying, boring, or pointless.

    used as a mild pejorative to describe something perceived as tedious, irritating, or lacking merit.

    Example

    I can't get this stupid computer to work properly.

    Example

    He spent the entire afternoon filling out stupid paperwork that nobody was ever going to read.

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  1. 3 amazing (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    used in slang to mean very good or amazing.

    used as a contronym in specific urban dialects to mean excellent or impressive.

    Example

    That new car he bought is just stupid.

    Example

    The production quality on her latest album is stupid, setting a new bar for the genre.

  2. 4 a foolish person (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a person who is not smart.

    a person who lacks intelligence or acts in a foolish manner.

    Example

    Don't be such a stupid; listen to what I am telling you.

    Example

    The film features a lovable stupid who somehow manages to save the day despite his constant blunders.

  3. 5 extremely (adv.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    used to mean 'very' or 'extremely'.

    functioning as an intensifier to emphasize the degree of an adjective.

    Example

    The weather today is stupid hot.

    Example

    The tickets for the concert were stupid expensive, but we decided to go anyway.

Origin

From Middle French stupide, from Latin stupidus (“struck senseless, amazed”), from stupeō (“be amazed or confounded, be struck senseless”), from Proto-Indo-European (s)tup-, (s)tewp- (“to push, stick”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tew- (“to push, hit”). Cognate with Old High German stubarōn (“to be astonished, be stunned, be blocked”). Related also to Old English stoppian (“to block, stop”). More at stop.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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