SIMPLEMINDED Synonyms: 212 Similar and Opposite Words

simpleminded

adjective

ˌsim-pəl-ˈmīn-dəd

Definition of simpleminded

as in naive

lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment a simpleminded view of a complex problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in foolish

showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment scornful of their simpleminded belief that their parents would always be there to take care of them

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 simpleminded Championship rings are not used as a measuring stick only by overcaffeinated fans and simpleminded columnists and talk-show hosts. — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 July 2026 Tranquillity, often simple but rarely simpleminded, may be Ruscha’s essential quality as an artist. — Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2023 But in general election terms, impeachment is a boon for the Democrats, which is why McCarthy is desperately trying to slow-walk these simpleminded drives for vengeance. — Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 7 July 2023 American democracy, as in the Electoral College, accommodates considerations more complex than simpleminded majoritarianism. — George Will, chicagotribune.com, 3 May 2018 And with a smirking Clint Eastwood as the soldier, the story—which Cullinan told entirely from the points of view of the women—became a simpleminded demonstration of how devious women are. — Charles Taylor, Newsweek, 22 June 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for simpleminded

Adjective

Sutskever is portrayed as the idealistic, naive hero — the ingenious mind behind the lab’s entire existence who can’t stomach lying and is reluctant to accumulate any power.

— Hayden Field, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026
Rebecca and Verity, which stars Johnson, are also about a new, naïve lover entering the home of a bad man with a wife hidden in his house of horrors.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of naive

Adjective

Soaking the suburbs over parking is reminiscent of other foolish, revenue-grabbing ideas, such as a congestion tax aimed at outsiders as a way to gin up money to cover Chicago’s ever-present budget black hole.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
With Oracle having lost more than $20 billion in stock-market value today, this appears to be penny-wise and pound foolish.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of foolish

Adjective

More than 150 innocent civilians were also killed in those strikes, according to a report released by the Pentagon this August.

— Frank Andrews, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
In England, poet William Cowper portrayed Mai as an innocent corrupted by European society.

— Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of innocent

Adjective

But seeing my parents examining themselves in that way and connecting with people and putting themselves in vulnerable and silly and meaningful situations.

— Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
That scene was always the silliest in the American version, and its absence in the international edition was a wise choice.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of silly

Adjective

These experienced and skilled athletes, who are often 22 or 23 years old, are appealing to coaches, especially when compared with inexperienced and physically less developed freshmen.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Hafley also cautioned against placing the sole blame on Willis, who started just the 11th game of his career and is leading a young offense with mostly inexperienced receivers who are still developing chemistry.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of inexperienced

Adjective

This episode notably lacked any nod to Trump, though mentions of the president as a whole have been brief compared to the previous season, when the president was the show’s focal point for absurd antics.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
And Saturday’s win proved that his plan to pursue championships — something that seemed absurd amid a lost 2025 season — has a real possibility of paying off with one.

— Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of absurd

Browse Nearby Words

simple

simpleminded

simplemindedness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Simpleminded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/simpleminded. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of simpleminded

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fervid

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes