imbecile — a person regarded as having impaired intellectual capacity; a stupid person
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a person regarded as having impaired intellectual capacity; a stupid person
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɪmbəsəl/
Example Sentences
- My brother felt like an imbecile when he realized he'd been pushing a 'pull' door for five minutes.
- Only an imbecile would try to charge their phone by putting it in the microwave.
- The teacher was frustrated with the imbecile responses she got from some students.
imbecile
NOUN[/ˈɪmbəsəl/]
a person regarded as having impaired intellectual capacity; a stupid person
Someone acting foolishly and stupidly
An imbecile mind stays fragile, while wisdom becomes fertile
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin imbecillus, meaning 'weak' or 'frail,' originally a medical term describing physical weakness. The meaning evolved from physical infirmity to mental weakness, eventually denoting intellectual deficiency.
Breakdown
im- (not) + baculum (staff/support) → imbecillus (without support, weak); the suffix -ile forms an adjective, creating the English term denoting one lacking mental capacity.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My brother felt like an imbecile when he realized he'd been pushing a 'pull' door for five minutes.”
“Only an imbecile would try to charge their phone by putting it in the microwave.”
“The teacher was frustrated with the imbecile responses she got from some students.”
“He called himself an imbecile for forgetting his own birthday party.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.