Definition of asininenext

Synonym Chooser

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 That these sayings are meant to reflect something both deep and asinine about the film itself is self-evident. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Feb. 2026 All of that would have seemed asinine mere weeks ago. Chad Graff, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 Speaking of people getting into hot water for saying asinine things, don’t miss Sabrina Impacciatore’s brilliantly inappropriate portrayal of Esmeralda Grande in The Office spin-off/continuation The Paper, which premieres on Peacock on Thursday, September 4. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2025 What's worse than luring Robert De Niro to Netflix for a boring, soulless and asinine political thriller? Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asinine
Adjective
  • Of course, sometimes the situation is more serious than stupid.
    Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The American people are not stupid and will not accept more failure theater from Republicans in Congress.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Which is an absurd list of options for a kid who barely played high school ball.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
  • The question of whether California should abolish property taxes almost seems absurd.
    Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • And the hour-long results that premiere on the platform Friday are a mix of the cerebral and silly that audiences have come to expect from the Problemista filmmaker and former Saturday Night Live writer.
    Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Now, though, to look only at coaches with UNC already on their resume would be silly.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Hatosy’s Titus is the Danforths’ disappointing fail son and the actor keeps his face in a delightfully foolish little pout.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Your fast response and decisive actions prevented this foolish criminal act from endangering the rest of the county.
    Christa Swanson, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • If he was convicted, a jury would then have to decide whether Abril was insane when the park shooting occurred.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2026
  • And the culture is happily playing along in the name of this insane thirst of Stan culture to have something on the other side.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Anything can happen, and everything's crazy.
    Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Folks need to remember this in November, because Uthmeier is raising money like crazy in a bid to take the AG’s job for real.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • This genre parody of Steven Segal action films and post-9/11 media like 24 is a show-within-a-show spun off Adult Swim web series On Cinema at the Cinema, wherein Tim Heidecker plays an evil, buffoonish, idiotic, shallow, narcissistic, Trumpian version of himself.
    Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
  • We were just stunned by my idiotic behavior, but that idea that of the constancy was suddenly were wiped.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Some celebrities have gotten mad at him about the interactions, and some of them laugh about it with him.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Us senior surfers need to stick together to hold off the hordes of nasty agro kidbots that are violently intent on world domination and the spread of nuclear surf rabies and mad Red Bull disease.
    Corky Carroll, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Asinine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asinine. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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