asinine
adjective
as·i·nine ˈa-sə-ˌnīn 
1
: extremely or utterly foolish or silly
an asinine excuse
2
: of, relating to, or resembling an ass
asininely adverb
asininity
ˌa-sə-ˈni-nə-tē
noun 
Synonyms
- absurd
- balmy
- brainless
- bubbleheaded
- cockeyed
- crackpot
- crazy
- cuckoo
- daffy
- daft
- dippy
- dotty
- fatuous
- featherheaded
- fool
- foolish
- half-baked
- half-witted
- harebrained
- inept
- insane
- jerky
- kooky
- kookie
- loony
- looney
- lunatic
- lunkheaded
- mad
- nonsensical
- nutty
- preposterous
- sappy
- screwball
- senseless
- silly
- simpleminded
- stupid
- tomfool
- unwise
- wacky
- whacky
- weak-minded
- witless
- zany
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
… geniuses like Brando strike self and material together in a way that sets off some incomparable spark, radiating so much charisma that they get away with choices that would seem asinine from anyone else. 
Jeremy McCarter, New York Times Book Review, 4 Jan. 2009 The boss of Wells Fargo has called the solvency tests "asinine". The aim of such behaviour is presumably to convince regulators to focus the coming clampdown on the weakest banks. The Economist, 13-19 June 2009 First the good news: There's one palatable piece of ear candy here, "Rocket O' Love." While the words are asinine ("Shotgun, shing-a-ling/One, two, one two three, hey!!"), it's a hearty … rocker Billy Squier might like to call his own. David Hiltbrand, People Weekly, 11 Mar. 1991 it was asinine to run into the street like that
Jeremy McCarter, New York Times Book Review, 4 Jan. 2009 The boss of Wells Fargo has called the solvency tests "asinine". The aim of such behaviour is presumably to convince regulators to focus the coming clampdown on the weakest banks. The Economist, 13-19 June 2009 First the good news: There's one palatable piece of ear candy here, "Rocket O' Love." While the words are asinine ("Shotgun, shing-a-ling/One, two, one two three, hey!!"), it's a hearty … rocker Billy Squier might like to call his own. David Hiltbrand, People Weekly, 11 Mar. 1991 it was asinine to run into the street like that Recent Examples on the Web Following an epic backlash on social media, Burrell released an asinine apology for, and defense of, her ugly message on a Facebook Live. Clay Cane, CNN, 21 July 2022 This has got to be the single most asinine simile producers have ever forced on a Bachelor or Bachelorette. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 24 Nov. 2021 However, the idea that somehow Osefo is any less intelligent or worthy of respect is asinine and antiquated. Tameka Amado, Essence, 25 Aug. 2021 The scheme always starts with a sweet-sounding premise that is totally asinine but that everyone agrees to pretend is a self-evident truth. Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 3 Apr. 2021 Alas, what should be a runaway creative success for the game’s director, Josef Fares, is marred by a tone-deaf narrative element which shows that asinine ethnic caricatures unfortunately still exist in video games. Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2021 The database shows some fliers treat airline mask requirements as a seemingly asinine rule to evade, akin to sneaking a late look at text messages after phones are supposed to be in airplane mode. Michael Laris, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Jan. 2021 Major league baseball has become an activity dominated by asinine statistical decisions to a large degree. Star Tribune, 3 Dec. 2020 The Outer Worlds draws its best moments from this contrast, and from the suffering and determination of the people living under the yoke of a really asinine economic system right out of the Gilded Age. Wired, 6 Nov. 2019 See More
Clay Cane, CNN, 21 July 2022 This has got to be the single most asinine simile producers have ever forced on a Bachelor or Bachelorette. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 24 Nov. 2021 However, the idea that somehow Osefo is any less intelligent or worthy of respect is asinine and antiquated. Tameka Amado, Essence, 25 Aug. 2021 The scheme always starts with a sweet-sounding premise that is totally asinine but that everyone agrees to pretend is a self-evident truth. Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 3 Apr. 2021 Alas, what should be a runaway creative success for the game’s director, Josef Fares, is marred by a tone-deaf narrative element which shows that asinine ethnic caricatures unfortunately still exist in video games. Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2021 The database shows some fliers treat airline mask requirements as a seemingly asinine rule to evade, akin to sneaking a late look at text messages after phones are supposed to be in airplane mode. Michael Laris, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Jan. 2021 Major league baseball has become an activity dominated by asinine statistical decisions to a large degree. Star Tribune, 3 Dec. 2020 The Outer Worlds draws its best moments from this contrast, and from the suffering and determination of the people living under the yoke of a really asinine economic system right out of the Gilded Age. Wired, 6 Nov. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin asininus, from asinus ass
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
asinine
adjective
as in stupid
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment it was asinine to run into the street like that Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- stupid
- absurd
- silly
- foolish
- idiotic
- crazy
- insane
- mad
- ridiculous
- irrational
- lunatic
- nonsensical
- preposterous
- dumb
- fatuous
- simple
- daft
- fool
- unreasonable
- zany
- unwise
- senseless
- witless
- wacky
- brainless
- harebrained
- inept
- idiotical
- loony
- moronic
- weak
- nutty
- screwball
- simpleminded
- sappy
- daffy
- kooky
- looney
- dippy
- tomfool
- illogical
- slow
- dotty
- crackpot
- jerky
- whacky
- unreasoning
- ludicrous
- half-baked
- thoughtless
- cuckoo
- lunkheaded
- obtuse
- lamebrain
- half-witted
- imbecile
- vacuous
- doltish
- balmy
- laughable
- weak-minded
- clueless
- unintelligent
- bubbleheaded
- cockeyed
- fallacious
- mindless
- dopey
- unreasoned
- featherheaded
- farcical
- kookie
- feebleminded
- dunderheaded
- thickheaded
- invalid
- dull
- out to lunch
- dense
- oafish
- dorky
- imbecilic
- pinheaded
- opaque
- unsound
- lamebrained
- airheaded
- dim
- surd
- gormless
- thick
- nonrational
- empty-headed
- dim-witted
- knuckleheaded
- softheaded
- soft
- brain-dead
- clownish
- notional
- birdbrained
- chuckleheaded
- buffoonish
- dopy
- unconsidered
- slow-witted
- ill-advised
- boobish
- chowderheaded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sensible
- wise
- sound
- sane
- prudent
- sagacious
- clever
- reasonable
- logical
- judicious
- intelligent
- rational
- smart
- valid
- sage
- bright
- brainy
- sapient
- well-advised
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of asinine are fatuous, foolish, silly, and simple. While all these words mean "actually or apparently deficient in intelligence," asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception.
an asinine plot
While the synonyms fatuous and asinine are close in meaning, fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality.
fatuous conspiracy theories
The meanings of foolish and asinine largely overlap; however, foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense.
foolish stunts
The synonyms silly and asinine are sometimes interchangeable, but silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior.
the silly antics of revelers
In some situations, the words simple and asinine are roughly equivalent. However, simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort.
considered people simple who had trouble with computers