different between foolish vs nincompoop

English

Etymology

From Middle English folisch; equivalent to fool +? -ish.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fu?.l??/

Adjective

foolish (comparative foolisher or more foolish, superlative foolishest or most foolish)

1. (of a person, an action, etc.) Lacking good sense or judgement; unwise.
2. Resembling or characteristic of a fool.

Synonyms

• absurd
• idiotic
• ridiculous
• silly
• unwise

Antonyms

• wise

Derived terms

• a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds
• foolishly
• foolishness

Translations

English

Etymology

Origin uncertain; the first element nincom- is possibly from the name Nicholas or Nicodemus (compare French nicodème (“foolish or gullible person”), from the Pharisee named Nicodemus mentioned in the Bible who asks Jesus seemingly naive questions: see John 3:1–21), or from ninny (“foolish or silly person”), while the second element -poop could be derived from poop (“(obsolete) to cheat, deceive, fool”). The English lexicographer Samuel Johnson (1709–1784) suggested that the first element might be from Latin non compos (mentis) (“not of sound mind”), but the Oxford English Dictionary notes that this does not correspond with early forms of the word from the 16th century such as nickumpoop and nicompoop.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n??k?mpu?p/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n??k?m?pup/, /?n?n-/
• Hyphenation: nin?com?poop

Noun

nincompoop (plural nincompoops)

1. (derogatory) A foolish or silly person. [from 16th c.]

   Synonyms: dunderhead, fool, imbecile, nitwit, gaby, hammerhead; see also Thesaurus:fool

Alternative forms

• nickumpoop, nicompoop, nincumpoop (obsolete)

Derived terms

• nincompoopish
• nincompoopism
• nincompoopery

Translations

References