gormless

adjective

ˈgȯrm-ləs How to pronounce gormless (audio)
Definition of gormlessnext
chiefly British
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily a comedy show that invariably portrays the British aristocracy as a bunch of gormless twits

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gormless This is the least intentional of this trio of gormless, spray-and-pray LPs but perhaps the most layered and ambitious. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026 There are worse things than watching Black, Rudd, and Zahn play three gormless morons on a mid-life misadventure, but almost every scene and setpiece is constructed with a haphazardness that blunders away their charm. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 23 Dec. 2025 Ustinov hired him, though, as Stamp had unwittingly replicated Billy Budd’s gormless behavior. — Rhett Bartlett, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2025 Much like bad prose, his gormless suits draw far too much attention to themselves. — Hazlitt, 19 Dec. 2024 Much of the movie unfolds inside the suburban Connecticut mansion where Lily lives with her gormless mother (Francie Swift) and her loathsome stepdad. — Justin Chang, latimes.com, 8 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gormless
  1. dumb
  2. stupid
  3. slow
  4. simple
  5. thick
  6. dull
Adjective
  • California is flush with dumb money and bad judgment, and an insatiable romance with an epic 1,200-mile shoreline.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • There were so many strangers ready to weigh in on my dumb life choices!
    — Sara Vilkomerson, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of dumb
Adjective
  • Doing so would be a stupid move for an Oval Office wannabe, one already hobbled by the progressive persona of the Golden State.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Republican Massachusetts Senate nominee John Deaton is not stupid.
    — Jon Keller, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of stupid
Adjective
  • On winding roads, its model-specific suspension tuning and focus on weight reduction translate into exceptional body control at speed without becoming brittle or overly rigid in slower, more technical sections.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In particular, he was asked about Netflix’s slower growth (2% year-over-year growth in user engagement during the first half in 2026).
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • The best power pop is simple, direct, and memorable, in both words and sound.
    — Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The lack of close coordination between these simple details undermines the structure’s coherence and intent.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • If sauce is thick, stir in water, a spoonful at a time, to loosen.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Kitty-corner from the park is 16th Street Baptist Church, the city's first Black congregation, housed in a thick tan brick building of Romanesque-Byzantine design, which became a center for civil rights meetings.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of thick
Adjective
  • Many of the strongest initial applications are the dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks that go unfilled, contribute to injuries, and pull people away from higher-value judgment and exception handling.
    — Navin Chaddha, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But in the years between Logic1000’s in-your-face debut EP and 2024’s duller, more careful Mother, her solo work became less singular.
    — Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dull

Browse Nearby Words

gormandizing
gormless
gormlessness
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Cite this Entry

“Gormless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gormless. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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