oaf
/oʊf/
NOUN
1. A clumsy or foolish person
A person, especially a large man, who is awkward in movement, behaves clumsily, or lacks intelligence or social refinement.
1.1. A physically clumsy person
Someone who is awkward, ungainly, or careless in their movements, often appearing physically awkward because of their size or lack of coordination.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- graceful person
- nimble person
Examples
- He stumbled into the room like a clumsy oaf.
- The young man turned into an oaf on the dance floor.
Related Words
- awkward
- ungainly
- clumsy
- uncoordinated
- cumbersome
1.2. A foolish or unintelligent person
Someone regarded as stupid, slow-witted, or lacking common sense.
Synonyms
- idiot
- dolt
- fool
- simpleton
- blockhead
- dimwit
- nincompoop
- ninny
- dunce
- numskull
Antonyms
Examples
- Don't be such an oaf; pay attention to your surroundings!
- Everyone considered him an oaf because he repeatedly ignored simple instructions.
Related Words
- foolish
- stupid
- ignorant
- witless
- senseless
1.3. An uncultured or boorish person
Someone who behaves roughly, rudely, or without consideration for social manners.
Synonyms
- boor
- churl
- buffoon
- brute
- clod
- lout
Antonyms
- gentleman
- gentlemanly person
Examples
- His rude comments made him seem like an oaf at the formal dinner.
- The guests avoided the oaf because of his boorish behavior.
Related Words
- rude
- uncouth
- coarse
- ill-mannered
- uncultured
NOUN
2. A changeling or deformed child in folklore
In folklore, an elf's child or a changeling believed to have been left by fairies or goblins in place of a human child, traditionally described as deformed or foolish.
2.1. A supernatural changeling
A child believed in folklore to have been secretly substituted for a human child by fairies or goblins.
Synonyms
- changeling
Examples
- The old legend claimed that the child was an oaf left by the fairies.