An imbecile is an extremely stupid person. The noun imbecile is used informally as an insult to mean "fool".
People also ask
Is imbecile an offensive word?
The terms idiot, imbecile, moron, and their derivatives, such as imbecility, were formerly used as technical descriptors in medical, educational, and regulatory contexts. These uses were broadly rejected by the close of the 20th century and are now considered offensive.
What's another word for imbecile?
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imbecile. idiotic. stupid. dumb. foolish.
Is imbecile a disorder?
The term imbecile was once used by psychiatrists to denote a category of people with moderate to severe intellectual disability, as well as a type of criminal. The word arises from the Latin word imbecillus, meaning weak, or weak-minded.
Where did the term imbecile originate?
Imbecile began its life in English in the 16th century as an adjective, and meant "weak, feeble" (the word comes from the Latin imbecillus, "weak, weak-minded").
im·be·cile
im·be·cile/ˈimbəs(ə)l/
noun
a stupid person.
adjective
stupid; idiotic.
"try not to make imbecile remarks"
1. a foolish or stupid person; his anger burst forth freely; I have behaved like an imbecile! I should never have left that case here.
The term imbecile was once used by psychiatrists to denote a category of people with moderate to severe intellectual disability, as well as a type of criminal.
Synonyms for IMBECILE: idiot, moron, stupid, lunatic, dummy, prat, loser, fool; Antonyms of IMBECILE: genius, brain, intellect, intellectual, thinker, sage, ...
a person who behaves in an extremely stupid way: What an imbecile that boy is! Synonyms half-wit disapproving idiot moron informal
adjective · Informal. stupid; silly; absurd. · Usually Offensive. showing mental feebleness or incapacity. · Archaic. weak or feeble.
(dated) Destitute of strength, whether of body or mind; feeble; impotent; especially, mentally weak.
imbecile is considered offensive. imbecile has developed meanings and uses in subjects including medicine (mid 1500s) psychology (1830s)
1. a foolish or weak-minded person 2. Psychology (now considered offensive and no longer in technical use) a person of the second lowest order.
noun plural imbeciles [count] : a very stupid person : an idiot or fool He drank too much and started acting like a complete imbecile.
