dunce
Slow-witted student
A dunce is a person regarded as slow-witted or stupid, especially someone who struggles to learn.
The word often implies repeated failure despite instruction: He felt like a dunce in math class.
A dunce cap—the tall conical hat once used to humiliate slow students—survives as an image of public shaming for stupidity.
Unwise, gullible person
- idiotFoolish, senseless person
- simpletonUnintelligent person
- blockheadStupid, foolish person
- dimwitFoolish, slow person
nincompoop · dullard · ignoramus · numskull · bonehead · knucklehead · nitwit · halfwit
Foolish, senseless person
- moronWitless, dense person
- foolUnwise, gullible person
- stupidLacking intelligence or judgment
- dimwitFoolish, slow person
numbskull · blockhead · nitwit · bonehead · thickhead · dullard · ignoramus · dummy
Meeting point of edges
- stoolBackless sitting furniture
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
humiliation · slow learner · remedial · held back · failing · chalkboard · mockery · pointed hat
Rigorous dialectical learning method
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- anti-intellectualOpposed to educated thought
- RenaissanceEuropean cultural reawakening
- obsoleteNo longer in use
archaic · schoolroom · Victorian · one-room schoolhouse · rote learning · corporal punishment
fool
Unwise, gullible person
dimwit · nincompoop · dullard · ignoramus · numskull · bonehead · knucklehead · nitwit · halfwit · dolt
idiot
Foolish, senseless person
dimwit · numbskull · blockhead · nitwit · bonehead · thickhead · dullard · ignoramus · dummy · simpleton
corner
Meeting point of edges
- stoolBackless sitting furniture
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- shamePainful awareness of failure
ridicule · humiliation · slow learner · remedial · held back · failing · chalkboard · mockery · pointed hat · discipline
scholasticism
Rigorous dialectical learning method
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- anti-intellectualOpposed to educated thought
- RenaissanceEuropean cultural reawakening
obsolete · archaic · schoolroom · Victorian · one-room schoolhouse · rote learning · corporal punishment
duncegenius
Person of rare brilliance
brain · intellectual · sage · prodigy · whiz
duncescholar
Learned, studious person
valedictorian · honor student · straight-A student · academic · star pupil
- dunce capsConical punishment headwear
- dunce hatPointed cap marking stupidity