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Antonyms for dunce

Grammar : Noun
Spell : duhns
Phonetic Transcription : dÊŒns

Definition of dunce

Origin :
  • "dullard," 1570s, from earlier Duns disciple "follower of John Duns Scotus" (c.1265-1308), Scottish scholar of philosophy and theology supposed to have been born at Duns in Berwickshire. By 16c., humanist reaction against medieval theology singled him out as the type of the hairsplitting scholastic. It became a general term of reproach applied to more conservative philosophical opponents by 1520s, later extended to any dull-witted student.
  • noun stupid person
Example sentences :
  • Fowell learnt very little at school, and was regarded as a dunce and an idler.
  • Extract from : « Self-Help » by Samuel Smiles
  • He was long described by his Spartan mother, who thought him a dunce, as only ‘food for powder.’
  • Extract from : « Self-Help » by Samuel Smiles
  • The world's a father to a Dunce unknown, And much he thrives, for Dulness!
  • Extract from : « An Essay on Satire, Particularly on the Dunciad » by Walter Harte
  • A fool, a dunce, or a bad man does harm and not good in the world.
  • Extract from : « The Bad Family and Other Stories » by Mrs. Fenwick
  • After all, Harry was no dunce, but he was not yet convinced.
  • Extract from : « 'Charge It' » by Irving Bacheller
  • Some asked whether he could say his alphabet yet; and others whether he could spell "dunce."
  • Extract from : « The Crofton Boys » by Harriet Martineau
  • Of course he was a dunce, for how could he chatter and learn as well?
  • Extract from : « Golden Moments » by Anonymous
  • What a dear old darling of a dunce you are, John, to be sure!
  • Extract from : « The Cricket on the Hearth » by Charles Dickens
  • "I believe the dunce speaks the truth," broke in Jack Rasco.
  • Extract from : « The Boy Land Boomer » by Ralph Bonehill
  • That dunce is with her on a few days vacation from a school for the feeble-minded.
  • Extract from : « David Lannarck, Midget » by George S. Harney

Synonyms for dunce

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019