brainless

adjective

ˈbrān-ləs How to pronounce brainless (audio)
Definition of brainlessnext
1
as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily a teacher who affirms that there are no brainless students, only lazy ones

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stupid
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment a brainless decision to talk on her cell phone while weaving in and out of traffic

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 brainless This extends well beyond the 2025 Bombers, their signature head-scratching and somewhat brainless play on the field has plagued them dating back to 2021. — James O'Connell, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2025 There's really no way to prep for the show — basically, just don't be brainless. — Lindsay Soll, EW.com, 25 July 2025 So, what can the neuronal activity of a tiny, brainless creature possibly tell us about the evolution of our own complex brains? — Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 15 June 2024 An oyster, immobile and nearly brainless, is hardly even an animal, despite what the taxonomists tell us. — Peter Rubin, Longreads, 9 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for brainless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainless
  1. dumb
  2. stupid
  3. slow
  4. foolish
  5. simple
  6. silly
  7. thick
  8. insane
Adjective
  • America’s Semiquincentennial was celebrated across the country this summer with big, dumb, gluttonous fun.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But the attention on Cunningham’s comments, the contrived outrage over a fictional trans athlete draft and dumb stunts by former NBA players may have helped drive more folks toward watching the league’s games.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of dumb
Adjective
  • Far too much coverage of declining trust in science — particularly the anti-vaccine movement — is predicated on the assumption that its adherents are either stupid or crazy.
    — Rick Berke, STAT, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Dodge Durango Hellcat is the most accessible way to go stupid-fast in a three-row family car thanks to the Escalade V‘s high price tag.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of stupid
Adjective
  • Reseeding helps block weed growth, repel lawn diseases, slow soil erosion, and strengthen growth in bare patches.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Critical thinking is based on the need for a deliberate, slow, self-regulatory pause.
    — Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • When his splitter is at its best, Cruz makes opposing hitters look foolish.
    — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But Americans would be foolish to think that Washington is anywhere near solving this problem.
    — Doug Beck, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of foolish
Adjective
  • Waist circumference is one simple way to estimate visceral fat.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • From a straightforward season-long points race to giving the points leader a cushion on the leaderboard, and now the simple format of awarding the FedEx Cup to the winner of the Tour Championship, the postseason has long needed a boost.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • Of course, challenges immediately present themselves, the silliest of which belongs to Samir and Paul Baker.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In practice, a black-and-white hunk of metal sprinting into a wall looks silly.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of silly
Adjective
  • Even during the rut, Infalt shoots most of his mature bucks in the thick stuff near where deer sleep.
    — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The evidence suggests that back then a thicker, ancient atmosphere sheltered flowing streams and sparkling lakes.
    — Ashwin R. Vasavada, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of thick
Adjective
  • The new season has been absolutely insane through four episodes as the hunt to save Joe (Zoe Saldaña) from her kidnappers is underway.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • If Gigi is malintentioned and insane and a homewrecker, there’s no story, right?
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of insane

Browse Nearby Words

braining
brainless
brainlessness
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Cite this Entry

“Brainless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainless. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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