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Definitions

fatuous

[fach-oo-uhs] / ˈfætʃ u əs /
ADJECTIVE
stupid
Synonyms
WEAK
absurd asinine birdbrained boneheaded brainless dense dull foolish idiotic imbecile inane insensate jerky lamebrained ludicrous lunatic mad mindless moronic puerile sappy silly simple vacuous witless
Antonyms
WEAK
aware bright intelligent keen sensible smart

Usage

What are other ways to say fatuous? The adjective fatuous implies being not only foolish, dull, and vacant in mind, but complacent and highly self-satisfied as well: fatuous and self-important; fatuous answers. Foolish implies a lack of common sense or good judgment or, sometimes, a weakness of mind: a foolish decision; The child seems foolish. Silly denotes extreme and conspicuous foolishness; it may also refer to pointlessness of jokes, remarks, etc.: silly and senseless behavior; a perfectly silly statement. Inane applies to silliness that is notably lacking in content, sense, or point: inane questions that leave one with no reply. Stupid implies natural slowness or dullness of intellect, or, sometimes, a benumbed or dazed state of mind; it is also used to mean foolish or silly: He was rendered stupid by a blow; It is stupid to do such a thing. Asinine originally meant like an ass; it applies to witlessly stupid conversations or conduct and suggests a lack of social grace or perception: He failed to notice the reaction to his asinine remarks.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But at least they made an attempt, however fatuous, to persuade the American people and the country’s international allies that there was a reason for doing so.

From Salon • Feb. 24, 2026

You’d be unwise to look to the movies for economic insight—this one amounts to an extended fatuous argument that an individual who behaved like a corporate restructuring would be a psychopath.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

Not buying that fatuous distinction, Muriel, whom Molaskey handily makes the most complex character among a crowd of cartoons, offers a rebuttal in what may be the only ode to fact-checking ever written.

From New York Times • Feb. 6, 2024

“Lost in an endless game of IP-reshuffling musical chairs, Barry realizes, possibly too late, the futility of dwelling on the past — a fatuous lesson from a movie that can’t stop doing the same.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2023

As she walked about the yellowing hillsides or worked at easy tasks, her lips were curled in a perpetual fatuous smile.

From "The Red Pony" by John Steinbeck

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.