If you say that someone is a dunce, you think they are rather stupid because they find it difficult or impossible to learn what someone is trying to teach them.
[disapproval]
Michael may have been a dunce at mathematics, but he was gifted at languages.
Synonyms: simpleton, duffer [informal], bonehead [slang], loon [informal] More Synonyms of dunce
dunce in British English
(dʌns)
noun
a person who is slow to learn
Derived forms
duncelike (ˈdunceˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Dunses or Dunsmen, term of ridicule applied to the followers of John Duns Scotus, especially by 16th-century humanists
dunce in American English
(dʌns)
noun
1.
a dull, ignorant person
2.
a person slow at learning
Word origin
after Duns Scotus: his followers, called Dunsmen, Dunses, Dunces, were regarded as foes of Renaissance humanism
Synonyms of 'dunce'
simpleton, moron, duffer, bonehead
More Synonyms of dunce
(noun)
Definition
a person who is stupid or slow to learn
He was a dunce at mathematics.
Synonyms
simpleton
He was a lightweight, a political simpleton.
duffer (informal)
bonehead (slang)
loon (informal)
goose (informal)
ass
He was regarded as a pompous ass.
donkey
oaf (old-fashioned)
some oaf shouting into his phone
dullard (old-fashioned)
dimwit (informal)
Frankly, only a dimwit would say that.
ignoramus (formal)
I am an ignoramus regarding technical matters.
nitwit (informal)
You great nitwit! What did you do that for?
dolt
He's a first class dolt.
blockhead
a bunch of bowler-hatted blockheads
halfwit
I'm a mindless optimist, a cheery halfwit.
nincompoop (old-fashioned)
Only a complete nincompoop would believe a story like that.