thickheaded

thickheaded — adjective

  • thickheadedpositive
  • more thickheadedcomparative
  • most thickheadedsuperlative

1. slow to understand new ideas or learn things; not mentally quick.

1.形容詞B2
釋義

slow to understand new ideas or learn things; not mentally quick.

例句

The coach grew frustrated with the thickheaded player who kept forgetting the same drill.

thickheaded + player: describes someone slow to learn

Xiu felt her face turn red after giving a thickheaded answer in front of the class.

同義詞
  • dense

    more informal; suggests information cannot get through to the person

  • slow

    milder; focuses on processing speed rather than inability

  • stupid

    broader and potentially harsher; covers all types of unintelligent behaviour

反義詞
  • quick-witted

    opposite: fast to understand and react

  • sharp

    informal; suggests mental alertness

用法筆記

Often used in informal criticism to describe someone who repeatedly fails to understand something that seems obvious to others.

常見錯誤

❌The student was thickheaded about math problems.
✅The student was thickheaded and kept making the same math mistake.
💡'thickheaded' describes a general mental tendency, not a specific topic difficulty.

2. having a skull that is unusually thick; also describes a person who stubbornly r

2.形容詞C1
釋義

having a skull that is unusually thick; also describes a person who stubbornly refuses to listen to reason or change their mind.

例句

Valentina's thickheaded father refused to ask for directions even after driving in circles for an hour.

thickheaded + refused to: stubborn unwillingness to listen to reason

Layla told her father he was too thickheaded to admit he was wrong about the route.

too thickheaded to admit: unwillingness to accept being wrong

同義詞
  • stubborn

    more common and neutral; does not imply physical thickness

  • obstinate

    more formal; suggests firm opposition to change

  • bullheaded

    informal; suggests aggressive stubbornness

反義詞

用法筆記

The figurative sense (stubborn refusal to listen to reason or change one's mind) is now the dominant meaning in modern use; the original literal meaning (a physically thick skull) is rare and mostly historical.