1
as in lunatic
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
don't be a nitwit—wear a seat belt!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in idiot
a stupid person
an absolute nitwit as far as geography is concerned
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fool
a silly flighty person
a nitwit who never should have been given a position of responsibility in the company
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nitwit
At one point, in the role of a former C.I.A. agent, Walter Lloyd, Hackman stubs a gun under the nose of a hapless nitwit from the agency who has been sent to protect Walter and his family.
—
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
Stan Brooks: That’s the pumping-iron term for somebody who’s kind of a nitwit.
—Benjamin Naddaff-Hafrey, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
The white supremacist rally that interrupted the mayor's lunch in Howell on Saturday wasn't overly impressive, really — just a dozen or so nitwits, and one ghost.
—Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 25 July 2024
The nitwits were chased off by a woman from the local library board.
—Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 25 July 2024
This childish nitwit called the judge deciding his case a Nazi, which earned him an extra five months in the J6 choir.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 11 June 2024
Dunst sleepwalks through this noxious comedy based on Toby Young’s 2001 memoir of the same name, playing a writer who takes a reluctant liking to Pegg’s infantile nitwit.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2024
Or is the old guy in the golf cart supposed to be a square, privileged nitwit parroting MAGA nonsense?
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 2 May 2024
Yet the nitwits across the street, who clutter their lawn with Christmas blow-up dolls, have won the contest four years in a row.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Dec. 2023
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
Stan Brooks: That’s the pumping-iron term for somebody who’s kind of a nitwit.
—Benjamin Naddaff-Hafrey, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2024
The white supremacist rally that interrupted the mayor's lunch in Howell on Saturday wasn't overly impressive, really — just a dozen or so nitwits, and one ghost.
—Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 25 July 2024
The nitwits were chased off by a woman from the local library board.
—Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 25 July 2024
This childish nitwit called the judge deciding his case a Nazi, which earned him an extra five months in the J6 choir.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 11 June 2024
Dunst sleepwalks through this noxious comedy based on Toby Young’s 2001 memoir of the same name, playing a writer who takes a reluctant liking to Pegg’s infantile nitwit.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2024
Or is the old guy in the golf cart supposed to be a square, privileged nitwit parroting MAGA nonsense?
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 2 May 2024
Yet the nitwits across the street, who clutter their lawn with Christmas blow-up dolls, have won the contest four years in a row.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nitwit
Noun
-
Once infused with the diabolical spirit, the guide is transformed into a buffoon, complete with a harlequin outfit—a mad joker and a dancing fool who does a little jig to the sound of a jazz trio.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2025
-
The two murderers point fingers at one another, then end up teaming up to go fool Lottie’s poor elderly father.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Instead, she was cast as the lovable ditz on Nickelodeon’s Victorious, which unexpectedly thrust her to a kind of teen idol status.—
Lacey Rose,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
-
Besides offering a cash prize of up to $250,000, the show can help change perception of a villain or a ditz and be a springboard for their next casting.—
Shivani Gonzalez,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
An underrated gem — not enough people have seen this top-tier season — Squirrels Trip has some fabulous vocals, very funny lyrics, a heavy dose of stupid, and an engaging story.—
Barry Levitt,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2025
-
The stupid!—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
2 July 2021
Noun
-
It was shot in portrait because it was shot in Instagram by and for a woman who was losing her mind in quarantine and had fully let the sillies take the wheel.—
Ego Nwodim,
TIME,
12 Feb. 2025
-
Some more sillies from last night’s GRAMMY nominees reception.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Best Deal: Quince Luxe Goose Down Pillow Luxe Goose Down Pillow $313 $120 Quince Pillow reviewer: Katherine McLaughlin, digital features editor Materials and firmness: The pillow is filled with white goose down and has a 100% cotton sateen shell.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
20 Feb. 2025
-
This $189 coat is filled with 700-fill-power goose down to keep you warm without adding unnecessary bulk to your carry-on.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In a signature segment, the Joke Wall, performers in mod regalia poked their heads out of holes in a set, like cuckoos emerging from a clock, and spouted one-liners.—
Susan Morrison,
The New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2025
-
Egg laying behavior of common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus): Data based on field video-recordings The New York Academy of Sciences.—
Cody Cottier,
Discover Magazine,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Duvall is a big reason why: All the film’s insights into the slipperiness of identity are there in her casually virtuosic, veritable dual performance, in which a funny flibbertigibbet loses hold of herself as the world around seems to splinter into something frighteningly new.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
19 July 2024
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Projects about Monroe have handled her personal life to varying degrees of success, often leaning into her flibbertigibbet persona, her struggles with addiction, and the paradox of her oozing sexuality and her little girl brokenness.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
24 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
Should former President Trump stop calling Ambassador Haley birdbrain?—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2024
-
By solving one kind of puzzle that stumped crows, though, the kids may have shown how a human mind treats problems differently than a birdbrain.—
Elizabeth Preston,
Discover Magazine,
26 July 2012
Cite this Entry
“Nitwit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nitwit. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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