Pronunciation

/dʌm/

Definitions

• Adjective: Lacking the power of speech or not able to speak (physically or mentally); mute. For example: “The baby was born deaf and dumb.”
• Adjective: Unable or unwilling to speak due to shock, fear, or amazement. For example: “She stood there dumb with surprise when she saw her old friend.”
• Adjective: Lacking intelligence or wit; foolish, unintelligent. Often considered offensive when used to refer to people with intellectual disabilities. For example: “His suggestion was so dumb that no one took it seriously.”
• Verb (archaic): To silence or make unable to speak. For example: “The spell had dumbed the knight, rendering him unable to defend himself verbally.”

Phrases

• “Dumbstruck”: Utterly astonished or stunned into silence or immobility.
• “Dumb luck”: Luck that is unaccompanied by wisdom or reason; accidental good fortune.
• “Dumb-founded”: Overwhelmed with astonishment to the point of being temporarily speechless.

Example Sentences

• Adjective (lacking speech ability): “After the accident, he became dumb and couldn’t communicate effectively.”
• Adjective (temporarily speechless): “She was dumbfounded when she learned she had won the lottery.”
• Adjective (lacking intelligence): “His dumb decision to ignore the warning signs led to his downfall.”

Synonyms

• Silent
• Speechless
• Unintelligent
• Foolish
• Ignorant
• Inarticulate
• Wordless (for the meaning of lacking speech)
• Stupid (informal and potentially offensive for the meaning of lacking intelligence)