ASININE Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'asinine' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of asinine are fatuous , foolish , silly , and simple . While all these words mean "actually or apparently deficient in intelligence," asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception. // an asinine plot

Q: When could 'fatuous' be used to replace 'asinine'?

While the synonyms fatuous and asinine are close in meaning, fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality. // fatuous conspiracy theories

Q: When is 'foolish' a more appropriate choice than 'asinine'?

The meanings of foolish and asinine largely overlap; however, foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense. // foolish stunts

Q: When can 'silly' be used instead of 'asinine'?

The synonyms silly and asinine are sometimes interchangeable, but silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior. // the silly antics of revelers

Q: When would 'simple' be a good substitute for 'asinine'?

In some situations, the words simple and asinine are roughly equivalent. However, simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort. // considered people simple who had trouble with computers

asinine

adjective

ˈa-sə-ˌnīn

Definition of asinine next

as in stupid

showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment it was asinine to run into the street like that

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word asinine different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of asinine are fatuous, foolish, silly, and simple. While all these words mean "actually or apparently deficient in intelligence," asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception.

an asinine plot

When could fatuous be used to replace asinine?

While the synonyms fatuous and asinine are close in meaning, fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality.

fatuous conspiracy theories

When is foolish a more appropriate choice than asinine?

The meanings of foolish and asinine largely overlap; however, foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense.

foolish stunts

When can silly be used instead of asinine?

The synonyms silly and asinine are sometimes interchangeable, but silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior.

the silly antics of revelers

When would simple be a good substitute for asinine?

In some situations, the words simple and asinine are roughly equivalent. However, simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort.

considered people simple who had trouble with computers

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 asinine Alonso may not be the priority at first base for the Bronx Bombers, but to say there is zero interest is asinine. —

Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024 Altman’s is a plainly asinine claim; a bunch of code running in a data center is not the same as a brain. —

Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024 Comedy videos about customer service and asinine Atlanta eatery rules were already popular on TikTok but have seen major pickup since Lee’s viral videos. —

Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2023 Rogozin's claim that the only evidence Roscosmos could offer of the Moon landings was a book by Leonov is asinine. —

Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 8 May 2023 Damning emails, texts, and deposition testimony made public during the Dominion case revealed that on-air hosts and executives, and many others at Fox, privately said in 2020 that the vote-rigging claims against Dominion were asinine. —

Jennifer Korn, CNN, 20 Apr. 2023 Leo Frank, the Jewish superintendent of the local pencil factory, thinks the whole event is asinine, but the sticky, creeping quality of that melody should be a warning. —

Vulture, 16 Mar. 2023 Completely asinine? —

Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Aug. 2022 Her tweets are predictably asinine. —

Rebecca Makkai, Harper's Magazine, 17 Aug. 2021

Recent Examples of Synonyms for asinine

Adjective

The premise itself is both deeply stupid and incredibly clever (the sweet spot, really).

— Erin Strecker, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2025
Some of the replies were the usual stupid snark on social media from people who thrive on being negative.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2025