imbecile

Meaning

Adj

Destitute of strength, whether of body or mind; feeble; impotent; especially, mentally weak.

Noun

1. (obsolete) A person with limited mental capacity who can perform tasks and think only like a young child, in medical circles meaning a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal five- to seven-year-old child.
2. A fool, an idiot.

Synonyms

idiot

moron

fool

stupid

idiotic

cretin

feeble-minded

silly

simpleton

dummy

half-wit

foolish

imbecilic

cretinous

mentally deficient

half-witted

clot

fatuous

lummox

lunatic

tomfool

slob

weak-headed

simp

simple

booby

zany

noodle

goon

oaf

dope

moronic

changeling

mooncalf

nincompoop

gudgeon

retard

mad

gaga

dolt

dimwit

feeble

dim

empty-headed

dupe

delirious

chump

brainless

lout

light-headed

Translations

imbécile

imbecille

imbécil

imbecil

imbeciel

budala

imbècil

βλάκας

ahmak

ηλίθιος

Trottel

aptal

crétin

idiot

idiota

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪmbəˈsiːl/

Etymology

From Middle French imbécile, from Latin imbēcillus (“weak, feeble”), literally “without a staff”.