imbecility

noun

ˌim-bə-ˈsi-lə-tē How to pronounce imbecility (audio)
Definition of imbecilitynext
1
as in insanity
a foolish act or idea was arrested for the sheer imbecility of speeding down a dark road with no headlights on

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in madness
lack of good sense or judgment we were stunned by the imbecility of the ideas presented by this once-respected biologist

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for imbecility
  1. insanity
  2. madness
  3. simplicity
  4. absurdity
  5. stupidity
Noun
  • Gein was found guilty of first-degree murder; in a separate trial to determine his mental competence, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
    Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Postpartum mental illnesses can be insidious and take many different forms, but the prosecution’s depiction of Lindsay challenged the stereotypical assumptions about insanity that had seemingly informed the public’s initial sympathy.
    Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
Definition of insanity
Noun
  • But Melina always fascinated Lila — the authenticity of madness, untethered from the social mores that dominated their environment, made sense for Lila.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Schedule madness Schools will play 18 conference games.
    Beth Harris, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2024
Definition of madness
Noun
  • Raines believes that simplicity also applies to his politics.
    Terry Collins, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
  • The production’s simplicity ditched the cliches that have accumulated around the play over decades.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of simplicity
Noun
  • On the floor above a woman sweeps the floor, an act of absurdity that doubles as bravery, the whole scene a desperate attempt at normalcy in a world that has become anything but.
    Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Accentuating the absurdity of the gold rush, one of the screenwriters of Mezrich’s project, Lauren Schuker Blum, was competing with her husband, the producer Jason Blum, who was racing to get HBO’s project developed.
    Simon van Zuylen-Wood, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
Definition of absurdity
Noun
  • But in Judge’s intentionally crass lament (which somehow becomes more prescient and troublesome by the day), our rampant national boorishness and stupidity was sort of the point.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2024
  • The problem lies in the stupidity of the is original spec.
    Charlie Fink, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Definition of stupidity
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near imbecility

imbecilities

imbecility

imbibe

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Cite this Entry

“Imbecility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imbecility. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on imbecility

Nglish: Translation of imbecility for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of imbecility for Arabic Speakers

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