dumb as a doornail

adjective

Irrefutably or unquestionably dumb.

OriginMiddle English dom as a dore-nayle →
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Meanings

adjective
  1. derogatorysimileIrrefutably or unquestionably dumb.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
not the sharpest tool in the shed

Origin

  1. Middle Englishdom as a dore-nayle
  2. Englishdumb as a doornail

From Middle English dom as a dore-nayle.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish tyhmä kuin saapas
  • tyhmä kuin saapasunquestionably dumb (stupid)
French con comme un balai
  • con comme un balaiunquestionably dumb (stupid)
Russian тупо́й как ва́ленок
  • тупо́й как ва́ленок (tupój kak válenok)unquestionably dumb (stupid)
Spanish más tonto que Abundio
  • más tonto que Abundiounquestionably dumb (stupid)
Cite this entry
APA

dumb as a doornail. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dumb%20as%20a%20doornail

MLA

“dumb as a doornail.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dumb%20as%20a%20doornail. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dumb as a doornail,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dumb%20as%20a%20doornail.

Source: dumb as a doornail on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.