CRETIN Synonyms: 197 Similar and Opposite Words

cretin

noun

ˈkrē-tᵊn

Definition of cretin

as in bastard

a person whose behavior is offensive to others the captain finally had to deal with the cretin in the back of the plane

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in moron

a stupid person in discussions anyone who disagrees with her is inevitably called a cretin

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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 cretin But the good things Huff did 10 years ago don’t give him a lifetime pass to be a cretin. — Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2020 There are the buck-passers, cretins who are content to simply stand up, find another table, and pass their misfortune on to some other unsuspecting soul. — Amiel Stanek, Bon Appétit, 26 Aug. 2019 Law's take on the royal cretin Vortigern ranges from very evil to very, very evil. — John Serba | [email protected], NOLA.com, 12 May 2017 The problem, of course, is a small minority of cretins who are destructive just for the sake of being destructive, without any regard for the environment or any consideration for others who deserve to see our natural areas without blemish. — Steve Lipsher, The Denver Post, 22 Apr. 2017 See All Example Sentences for cretin

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cretin

Noun

The latter accidentally does happen, which leads to power struggles between the bigoted jerk and our trio of heroines.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Duffy, for his part, came across as a real jerk at times, but surprisingly charming at others, with a half-nerd, half-jock mien—sweepy hair, big glasses, a megawatt smile—that put me in mind of a Wisconsin Sam Seaborn.

— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of jerk

Noun

But my favorite Tim Curry performance will always be Pennywise, the clown in Tommy Lee Wallace’s 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It, which, compared to Andy Muschietti’s mega popular pair of films, is modest, even a little lame.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026
Curry, who died Tuesday at 80, made a gleefully evil turn as a clown that sparked nightmares for legions of Gen X and millennial viewers that continue to haunt to this day.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of clown

Noun

The local community has also rallied to help the family by delivering meals, caring for their kids and walking their dog.

— Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
Four months later, he was seen last weekend walking dogs, taking walks, enjoying a cup of coffee in a garage, and even stopping to sift through neighborhood trash items on the side of the street.

— Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of dog

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crests

cretin

cretinous

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“Cretin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cretin. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of cretin

noun

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