dumb
/dʌm/ (bre, ipa) · /dʌm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdəm/ (ame, mw)
dumb — adjective
- dumbpositive
- dumbercomparative
- dumbestsuperlative
1. lacking good sense or sound judgment, often used in informal speech to criticize
lacking good sense or sound judgment, often used in informal speech to criticize someone's action, idea, or general intelligence.
Bilal made a dumb joke at dinner, and nobody laughed at all.
collocation: dumb joke
Sumin felt really dumb after giving the wrong answer to such an easy question.
pattern: feel + adj + after [event]
Renata called it a dumb plan to spend all the rent money on concert tickets.
What a dumb thing to say — of course you cannot fix a phone with a hammer.
- stupid
more direct; can be just as harsh but is more standard across registers
- foolish
milder; focuses on poor judgment in a situation rather than low intelligence
- silly
gentlest of the group; often playful or about trivial matters
- dense
informal; describes someone slow to understand rather than actively unintelligent
文法句型
dumb + noun
feel dumb
too dumb to + infinitive
用法筆記
Very common in informal spoken English but strongly avoided in formal or academic writing. When criticizing a specific action rather than a person's general intelligence, 'foolish' or 'unwise' are politer alternatives.
常見錯誤
2. physically unable to produce speech, either from birth or as a result of illness
physically unable to produce speech, either from birth or as a result of illness or injury.
A rare illness left Nadia completely dumb when she was a toddler.
passive: was left + adjective
The doctor explained that the patient was not deaf — he was simply dumb.
contrastive structure: not X — was Y
Noor showed her grandparents a 1950s medical book that called deaf children 'dumb,' then explained the term was outdated.
At the zoo, Esteban asked why the sign said gorillas were 'dumb' when they used hand gestures to communicate.
- mute
clinical, neutral term preferred in medical contexts
- nonverbal
educational context; broader, includes inability to use any language form
- speechless
temporary, emotional cause — not physical inability
- speaking
able to produce speech
- articulate
able to express oneself clearly
文法句型
dumb + with + [emotion noun (rare: physical inability)]
be born dumb
be left dumb
用法筆記
This sense is increasingly considered outdated or insensitive when referring to a person. The preferred modern terms are 'mute' (in clinical contexts) or 'nonverbal' (in educational settings). Learners should avoid using 'dumb' to describe someone's physical inability to speak in most everyday situations.
常見錯誤
3. finding yourself lost for words for a short while because a powerful feeling suc
finding yourself lost for words for a short while because a powerful feeling such as shock, surprise, or fear has taken over.
Henrik was struck dumb with shock when he heard that his sister had won the lottery.
fixed phrase: struck dumb + with + [emotion]
The audience sat dumb with amazement after the magician made the elephant vanish.
pattern: sit/stand dumb with [emotion]
Ritu stood at the airport gate, dumb with fear that her parents would miss the flight.
Allison opened the letter and read the news, completely dumb with surprise.
- speechless
far more common in modern English for temporary inability to speak
- stunned
emphasizes the cause — shock or amazement — not just the effect
- tongue-tied
informal; usually from shyness or nervousness rather than shock
文法句型
be + dumb + with + [emotion]
struck + dumb + by/with + [emotion]
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the fixed expression 'struck dumb' and is almost always followed by 'with' plus a cause noun (shock, amazement, fear, surprise). This sense rarely describes mere quietness — it always implies an external cause that robs you of words.
常見錯誤
4. referring to a piece of electronic equipment that has no internet access and can
referring to a piece of electronic equipment that has no internet access and cannot process data independently — the opposite of a 'smart' model.
A dumb TV cannot run streaming apps or connect to the internet on its own.
contrast: dumb TV vs smart TV
The company still sells a dumb version of the phone with no touchscreen.
collocation: dumb version
After the hacking incident, Gabriel replaced his smart plugs with old dumb switches.
Some users prefer a dumb keyboard that does not collect typing data.
- smart
able to connect and process data independently
- intelligent
high-end industry term for devices with AI capabilities
- connected
specifically about internet connectivity
文法句型
dumb + [device noun]
dumb + [technology noun]
用法筆記
Only used for electronic devices and technology — the direct opposite of 'smart' in product categories. Common in phrases like 'dumb phone' (a basic mobile phone with no internet) and 'dumb terminal' (a computer monitor with no processing power).
常見錯誤
dumb — verb
- dumbpresent simple I / you / we / they
- dumbs3rd person singular
- dumbing-ing form
- dumbedpast simple
1. to reduce or eliminate sound or activity, making something quieter, calmer, or l
to reduce or eliminate sound or activity, making something quieter, calmer, or less noticeable.
Thick curtains helped dumb the noise from the busy street outside the flat.
pattern: help + infinitive + object
City officials introduced new rules to dumb the impact of late-night construction work.
formal register: introduced rules to + verb
The soft carpet and padded walls dumbed the sound of footsteps in the hallway.
The school put thick curtains in the hall to dumb the noise from the playground outside.
文法句型
dumb + [direct object]
用法筆記
Extremely rare in modern everyday English. The verbs 'muffle,' 'deaden,' 'dampen,' or 'silence' are far more common for both sound and figurative reduction. Learners may encounter this verb in older or literary texts.