profoundly dumb

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "profoundly dumb" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or someone that is extremely foolish or lacking in intelligence. Example: "His decision to invest all his savings in a failing business was profoundly dumb."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

He felt profoundly dumb.

The New Yorker

As it turns out, this was a profoundly dumb line of reasoning.

The Guardian - Opinion

And its first answer was profoundly dumb ("Nintendo never intended to make any form of social commentary with the launch of Tomodachi Life") for not realizing that the addition or removal of gay marriage was itself an act of social commentary.

TechCrunch

So in addition to finding profoundly dumb lies about them commonplace, gays and lesbians are also constantly restrained from calling profoundly dumb lies about them profoundly dumb lies.

Huffington Post

Riff Raff traffics in extremes everything he does is so crazy that it must either be part of a metacontextual Dadaist joke and he is a genius, or he is just profoundly dumb and has been blessed by the Rap Gods with infinite luck.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The best episodes of the old Twin Peaks mix the two in about equal measures; the worst lean toward the former to the point of being profoundly boring and dumb, whereas Fire Walk With Me is so heavily weighted towards the latter that I didn't rewatch it until it became clear that I had to.

Vice

The San Francisco Chronicle called the the tax "a dangerously dumb idea" that is "profoundly reckless and self-defeating".

The Guardian

Such critics are not only wrong, the story continues with admittedly impeccable logic, but profoundly worthy of public contempt, as they are necessarily either dumb or corrupt.

Huffington Post

It's exciting that a show can be so smart and dumb at the same time, touch all my funny bones and comment profoundly on what it's like to be a young woman.

Huffington Post

Just because Trump is a profoundly anti-intellectual figure (books, what books?) running in an anti-intellectual time doesn't mean he's dumb.

Huffington Post

Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "profoundly dumb" to emphasize a particularly noticeable or consequential lack of intelligence, especially when describing decisions or actions with significant negative outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "profoundly dumb" in formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, it carries a strong negative connotation and might be perceived as unprofessional. Opt for alternatives like "extremely unwise" or "remarkably misguided" in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "profoundly dumb" functions as an intensifier (profoundly) modifying an adjective (dumb). It's used to express a strong negative judgment about someone or something's intelligence or lack thereof, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "profoundly dumb" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a strong negative judgment about someone or something's intelligence. As indicated by Ludwig, this expression is most commonly found in news and media contexts and is considered to have a neutral register, despite its critical and disapproving tone. While effective for emphasizing a significant lack of intelligence, it's important to consider the context and audience, opting for more formal alternatives like "remarkably misguided" or "extremely unwise" in professional settings. Given the limited number of examples, it can be considered as a rare expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly foolish

Replaces "dumb" with "foolish", maintaining a similar level of intensity and negativity.

completely idiotic

Substitutes both "profoundly" and "dumb" with synonyms, emphasizing the lack of intelligence.

remarkably stupid

Replaces "profoundly" with "remarkably", highlighting the striking degree of stupidity.

extremely unintelligent

Uses a more formal term, "unintelligent", while retaining the intensity through "extremely".

downright moronic

A more forceful and derogatory alternative, using "moronic" to express extreme stupidity.

patently absurd

Shifts the focus slightly to the absurdity of the action or statement, rather than the inherent intelligence of the person.

exceptionally dense

Uses "dense" as a more informal synonym for unintelligent, intensified by "exceptionally".

thoroughly brainless

Emphasizes the absence of thought or intelligence, using a more informal and vivid term.

blindingly naive

Emphasizes a lack of awareness or understanding, presenting it as intensely obvious.

incredibly unwise

Focuses on the lack of wisdom or good judgment, rather than intelligence itself.

FAQs

How can I use "profoundly dumb" in a sentence?

You can use "profoundly dumb" to describe an action, decision, or statement that is exceptionally foolish. For example, "Investing all his savings in a speculative venture was a "profoundly dumb" decision".

What are some alternatives to "profoundly dumb"?

Alternatives include "utterly foolish", "completely idiotic", or "extremely unintelligent", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "profoundly dumb" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "profoundly dumb" is generally considered informal and may not be suitable for formal writing. Consider using more professional alternatives like "remarkably misguided" or "extremely unwise".

What's the difference between "profoundly dumb" and "slightly foolish"?

"Profoundly dumb" indicates a very high degree of foolishness, implying a significant lack of intelligence or judgment. "Slightly foolish", on the other hand, suggests a minor or less consequential error in judgment.