What does "nincompoop" mean?
A foolish or silly person.
Nincompoop
/ˈnɪŋkəmpuːp/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A foolish or silly person.
- Grammar: nincompoop is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: ass, block, blockhead, boeotian.
- Useful contrasts: ace, expert, genius.
- Usage evidence: A former Reagan speechwriter called Sarah Palin "an ignorant nincompoop" after she referred to the late president's role in a movie that had co-starred a chimpanzee.
How to use "nincompoop"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "nincompoop" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "nincompoop" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "nincompoop" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "nincompoop" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "nincompoop" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ass" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "nincompoop", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A foolish or silly person. derogatory
"The Ship of Fools Fully Fraught and Richly Laden with Asses, Fools, Jack-daws, Ninnihammers, Coxcombs, Slender-wits, Shallowbrains, Paper-Skuls, Simpletons, Nickumpoops, Wiseakers, Dunces, and Blockheads. Declaring their several Natures, Manners, and Constitutions; the occasion why this Ship was built, with the places of their intended Voyage, and a lift of the Officers that bear Command therein [book title]."
- 2 a stupid foolish person wordnet
Example
"A former Reagan speechwriter called Sarah Palin "an ignorant nincompoop" after she referred to the late president's role in a movie that had co-starred a chimpanzee."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "nincompoop"?
Common synonyms include: ass, block, blockhead, boeotian, bonehead, clod.
How do you use "nincompoop" in a sentence?
A former Reagan speechwriter called Sarah Palin "an ignorant nincompoop" after she referred to the late president's role in a movie that had co-starred a chimpanzee.
How do you pronounce "nincompoop"?
Pronounced /ˈnɪŋkəmpuːp/.
Etymology
Uncertain; the first element nincom- is possibly from the name Nicholas or Nicodemus (compare French nicodème (“foolish or gullible person”), from the Pharisee named Nicodemus mentioned in the Bible who asks Jesus seemingly naive questions: see John 3:1–21), or from ninny (“foolish or silly person”), while the second element -poop could be derived from poop (“(obsolete) to cheat, deceive, fool”). The English lexicographer Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) suggested that the first element might be from Latin non compos (mentis) (“not of sound mind”), but the Oxford English Dictionary notes that this does not correspond with early forms of the word from the 16th century such as nickumpoop and nicompoop.