Phrase guide

dumb as a doornail

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Irrefutably or unquestionably dumb.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory

Qualifier: simile

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English dom as a dore-nayle.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: tyhmä kuin saapas — unquestionably dumb (stupid)
  • French: con comme un balai — unquestionably dumb (stupid)
  • Russian: тупо́й как ва́ленок (tupój kak válenok) — unquestionably dumb (stupid)
  • Spanish: más tonto que Abundio — unquestionably dumb (stupid)