Dunce
noun
A person who is slow at learning or stupid.
He was bullied at school, being called a dunce because he struggled with his studies.
Often appears as...
- dunce hat
- dunce cap
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A person who behaves foolishly.
I felt like a dunce for forgetting her birthday again.
Often appears as...
- feel like a dunce
- act like a dunce
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A person who is slow at learning or stupid.
He was bullied at school, being called a dunce because he struggled with his studies.
Often appears as...
- dunce hat
- dunce cap
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A person who behaves foolishly.
I felt like a dunce for forgetting her birthday again.
Often appears as...
- feel like a dunce
- act like a dunce
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Used to insult someone's intelligence, often considered hurtful.
Don't call someone a dunce; it's very offensive.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Origin
Originally referred to followers of John Duns Scotus, who wore 'dunce caps'.
Historically, a 'dunce' would wear a pointed hat.
Pro Tip 3/3Classroom Punishment
A 'dunce cap' was formerly used to punish and shame students in school.
Standing in the corner with a dunce cap was once a common school punishment.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Used to insult someone's intelligence, often considered hurtful.
Don't call someone a dunce; it's very offensive.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Origin
Originally referred to followers of John Duns Scotus, who wore 'dunce caps'.
Historically, a 'dunce' would wear a pointed hat.
Pro Tip 3/3Classroom Punishment
A 'dunce cap' was formerly used to punish and shame students in school.
Standing in the corner with a dunce cap was once a common school punishment.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Used to insult someone's intelligence, often considered hurtful.
Don't call someone a dunce; it's very offensive.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Origin
Originally referred to followers of John Duns Scotus, who wore 'dunce caps'.
Historically, a 'dunce' would wear a pointed hat.
Pro Tip 3/3Classroom Punishment
A 'dunce cap' was formerly used to punish and shame students in school.
Standing in the corner with a dunce cap was once a common school punishment.
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Video examples
Checkers Is the Heart...
checkerboard I could see that if I moved in moved yeah I'd get an advantage on it and when I learned how to play checkers I learned how to communicate so I went from a dunce to a halfway decent person and so check has changed my life anybody
Video examples
How do we learn to work...
feeling like a kid in the corner with a dunce cap. Like all the studies of robots and work I’ve done in the last eight years, I started this one with a big, open How do we learn to work with intelligent machines?
Video examples
Checkers Is the Heart...
checkerboard I could see that if I moved in moved yeah I'd get an advantage on it and when I learned how to play checkers I learned how to communicate so I went from a dunce to a halfway decent person and so check has changed my life anybody
Video examples
How do we learn to work...
feeling like a kid in the corner with a dunce cap. Like all the studies of robots and work I’ve done in the last eight years, I started this one with a big, open How do we learn to work with intelligent machines?
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Carol Loomis
American Journalist
From the minute I got to 'Fortune,' I loved my job. I knew myself to be a virtual dunce about business, and I was wide-eyed about how much I was learning.
Quote examples
Lisa Marie Presley
American Musician
I'm not eager to jump into marriage again. I'm in the corner right now, wearing my dunce cap. That area is obviously a nightmare.
Quote examples
William Cowper
English Poet
How much a dunce that has been sent to roam, excels a dunce that has been kept at home.
Quote examples
Emma Goldman
Russian Activist
The political arena leaves one no alternative, one must either be a dunce or a rogue.
Quote examples
Declan Donnelly
English Producer
I was an average student. Not a dunce. Used to play for the school football team.
Quote examples
Lord Byron
British Poet
Nothing can confound a wise man more than laughter from a dunce.
Quote examples
Isaac D'Israeli
British Writer
The defects of great men are the consolation of the dunces.
Quote examples
Alexander Pope
English Poet
A wit with dunces, and a dunce with wits.
Quote examples
Peter Thiel
American Businessman
A diploma is a dunce hat in disguise.
Quote examples
Carroll O'Connor
American Actor
Not all celebrities are dunces.
Quote examples
Carol Loomis
American Journalist
From the minute I got to 'Fortune,' I loved my job. I knew myself to be a virtual dunce about business, and I was wide-eyed about how much I was learning.
Quote examples
Lisa Marie Presley
American Musician
I'm not eager to jump into marriage again. I'm in the corner right now, wearing my dunce cap. That area is obviously a nightmare.
Quote examples
William Cowper
English Poet
How much a dunce that has been sent to roam, excels a dunce that has been kept at home.
Quote examples
Emma Goldman
Russian Activist
The political arena leaves one no alternative, one must either be a dunce or a rogue.
Quote examples
Declan Donnelly
English Producer
I was an average student. Not a dunce. Used to play for the school football team.
Quote examples
Lord Byron
British Poet
Nothing can confound a wise man more than laughter from a dunce.
Quote examples
Isaac D'Israeli
British Writer
The defects of great men are the consolation of the dunces.
Quote examples
Alexander Pope
English Poet
A wit with dunces, and a dunce with wits.
Quote examples
Peter Thiel
American Businessman
A diploma is a dunce hat in disguise.
Quote examples
Carroll O'Connor
American Actor
Not all celebrities are dunces.
Example 1 of 10
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