jackass

noun

jack·​ass ˈjak-ˌas 

1

: donkey

especially : a male donkey

2

: a stupid, annoying, or detestable person

… the weird thing about charisma is that trying to be charismatic backfires. By trying to be charismatic, you come off like a jackass.

—Zoë Chance

If you asked me ten years ago, I would have said, "Hell no, I'm not a Caribbean writer! I'm a writer." Now, I'm like, "That guy was a jackass. Don't listen to him!" Of course, I'm a Caribbean writer.

—Marlon James

This episode is the story of a real jackass abuser who literally bullies an entire town in Missouri for decades.

—smilepolitely.com

Synonyms

• berk [British]
• booby
• charlie [British]
• charley
• cuckoo
• ding-a-ling
• ding-dong
• dingbat
• dipstick
• doofus [slang]
• featherhead
• fool
• git [British]
• goose
• half-wit
• lunatic
• mooncalf
• nincompoop
• ninny
• ninnyhammer
• nit [chiefly British]
• nitwit
• nut
• nutcase
• simp
• simpleton
• turkey
• yo-yo

Examples of jackass in a Sentence

Some jackass spilled his drink on my shoes.

only a jackass would dive into a lake without first checking to see how deep the water is

Recent Examples on the Web

The experience of the story is different as Jeselnik explains it to me sincerely rather than as an onstage jackass. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024

Think about the jackass, who probably isn’t enjoying a stunning pink-purple sunset. —Tim Zientek, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024

Hey, Joe and fellow travelers, don’t act like your party moniker, the donkey, or more precisely, like jackasses. —David Holahan, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2024

These women need to police their behavior around this jackass of a man so that Hannah can feel comfortable? —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing jackass

• laughing jackass

Kids Definition

jackass

noun

jack·​ass ˈjak-ˌas 

1

: donkey sense 1

especially : a male donkey

2

: a stupid person : fool