as in dumb
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily
got tired of being treated like an empty-headed lackey and quit to start a business
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Recent Examples of empty-headed
As a result, his voice was confident, clear, and amplified by an empty-headed belief in his own good intentions.
—
Will MacKin,
New Yorker,
28 June 2026
Gosling earned an Oscar nomination for his role as the empty-headed Ken, while Ferrell played the goofy CEO of Mattel.
—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
16 July 2025
Andrew Cunningham Pokémon NPCs usually spout empty-headed pleasantries about the wonders of Pokémon; the NPCs in Palworld set a darker tone from the start.
—
Andrew Cunningham,
Ars Technica,
23 Jan. 2024
Fairly or not, NOFX and its Warped Tour compatriots are easily written off as empty-headed, obnoxious, adolescent bros. Fat Mike’s capitalist streak rubs many purists the wrong way.
—
Brett Martin,
New York Times,
28 Nov. 2023
Will MacKin,
New Yorker,
28 June 2026
Gosling earned an Oscar nomination for his role as the empty-headed Ken, while Ferrell played the goofy CEO of Mattel.
—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
16 July 2025
Andrew Cunningham Pokémon NPCs usually spout empty-headed pleasantries about the wonders of Pokémon; the NPCs in Palworld set a darker tone from the start.
—
Andrew Cunningham,
Ars Technica,
23 Jan. 2024
Fairly or not, NOFX and its Warped Tour compatriots are easily written off as empty-headed, obnoxious, adolescent bros. Fat Mike’s capitalist streak rubs many purists the wrong way.
—
Brett Martin,
New York Times,
28 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for empty-headed
Adjective
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The State’s humor is an interesting mixture of extremely dumb and self-aware.
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Mayhem comes to a coastal New England town in the form of a killer shark who hunts anybody dumb enough to get in the water.
Adjective
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And no, that was NOT OutKick or FOX who wrote that stupid headline.
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The thing about House of the Dragon is that everything really is quite stupid.
Adjective
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There was no repeat of the slow start that cost him a spot last season.
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The house old-fashioned can be made with bourbon or gin and is a much slower sip.
Adjective
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As for the volunteers, the goal is simple—help someone stay safe before the heat turns into an emergency.
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Evidence for at-home tools is thinner than for professional manual drainage, but the simplest options can offer mild circulation and surface-lymph support at a low price.
Adjective
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The combination makes strands thicker, fuller, stronger, frizz-free, and softer—and thus, longer with less shedding and breakage.
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The brown, round cookie has arms and legs, one eyebrow thicker than the other, and one buck tooth.
Adjective
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Comparing Young’s new deal to any extension for Davis would be a foolish exercise.
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Further, Plato’s disdain for Gorgias, Antisthenes’ first teacher, and sophistry in general is clear; in the Platonic dialogue Gorgias, the titular character is made out to be rather foolish.
Cite this Entry
“Empty-headed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empty-headed. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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