oafs
/oʊfs/
NOUN
1. Clumsy or foolish people
People, especially large men, who are awkward in their movements, lack grace, or behave foolishly.
1.1. Foolish or unintelligent people
People regarded as stupid, slow-witted, or lacking common sense.
Synonyms
- airheads
- blockheads
- boneheads
- dimwits
- dolts
- dopes
- dullards
- dunces
- fools
- idiots
- imbeciles
- morons
- nincompoops
- ninnies
- numbskulls
- simpletons
Antonyms
Examples
- The two oafs stumbled out of the pub, laughing loudly.
- The teacher sighed as the classroom door swung open, revealing a pair of oafs.
Related Words
- ignorance
- stupidity
- foolishness
- incompetence
- absurdity
1.2. Clumsy or awkward people
People who are physically awkward, ungainly, or lacking coordination and grace.
Synonyms
Examples
- The courtyard echoed with the boisterous chatter of the oafs.
- Despite their size, the gentle giants were anything but oafs in their actions.
Related Words
- clumsiness
- awkwardness
- ungainliness
- lack of coordination
- inelegance
1.3. Boorish or uncouth people
People who behave roughly, rudely, or without proper manners or social refinement.
Synonyms
- boors
- buffoons
- churls
- clods
- louts
- yahoos
Examples
- She scolded the oafs for leaving a mess in the kitchen.
- The guests regarded the noisy visitors as a group of oafs.
Related Words
- rudeness
- boorishness
- uncouthness
- coarseness
- bad manners
NOUN
2. Changelings in folklore
In folklore, children believed to have been left by fairies or goblins in place of human children, traditionally described as deformed or foolish.
2.1. Fairy or goblin changelings
Children believed in folklore to have been substituted for human children by fairies or goblins.
Synonyms
- changelings
Examples
- The old legend described the strange children as oafs left by fairies.