doofus

noun

doo·​fus ˈdü-fəs How to pronounce doofus (audio)
-fis
variants or less commonly dufus
plural doofuses also dufuses ˈdü-fə-siz How to pronounce doofus (audio)
slang
: a stupid, incompetent, or foolish person

Examples of doofus in a Sentence

Don't be such a doofus. I don't want to be partnered on the project with that doofus.
Recent Examples on the Web Tom comes off as a shallow bully at first, and then as a bumbling doofus out of his depth, and occasionally as a massively petty middle-manager desperate for approval. Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Apr. 2023 Boy, had this doofus messed up. Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2023 To the doofus who called in and said that there are actual, medical professionals who speak out against the vaccine and actually have data to back it up, unfortunately not one of those people in the entire world who has that data will give it to anyone to look at it. Pioneer Press Staff, chicagotribune.com, 29 Dec. 2021 Particularly well served by the writers are Doi, the resident mordant wit, and Donovan as the doofus — in Kutcher’s old job, basically. Robert Lloydtelevision Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2023 Johnny is a very funny, very thrilling combination of playful writing and a canny performance of doofus-tude. Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 Calvin, a doofus with inappropriate intentions, has an old friend—a hedge-fund manager, Ivy League alumnus and, presumably, a donor—through whom Calvin can place one student a year at Honor’s would-be alma mater. John Anderson, WSJ, 28 July 2022 Be the doofus who tries skateboarding for the first time at age 53. Joseph Goodman, al, 17 June 2022 Extending their doofus-and-diva act to the classrooms, corridors, and teachers’ lounge transfers their personal careerism into a facetious representation of a major social institution. Armond White, National Review, 13 Apr. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'doofus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of goof entry 1

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of doofus was in 1960

Dictionary Entries Near doofus

Cite this Entry

“Doofus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doofus. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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