Describing Intellectual Incapabilities: English Vocabulary List

having a limited ability to think or understand quickly

"He is slow-witted."

"The slow-witted employee could not understand the simple instructions so his boss had to explain everything to him three times before he got it."

lacking intelligence or sharpness in thinking

"That was dim-witted."

"His dim-witted response to the simple question revealed a surprising lack of understanding."

lacking knowledge, understanding, or awareness about a particular situation or subject

"He is clueless."

"The clueless tourist walked into a dangerous neighborhood late at night and had no idea why everyone was staring at him with suspicion."

lacking intelligence or not taking things seriously

"She is airheaded."

"The airheaded receptionist forgot to give the boss his messages three days in a row and she finally got fired for her constant careless mistakes."

believing things very easily and being easily tricked because of it

"He is gullible."

"The gullible old man gave thousands of dollars to a fake charity because the scammer on the phone sounded very kind and convincing."

lacking meaningful content, purpose, or usefulness

"That is an inane comment."

"The politician made an inane comment about the economy that showed he had no real understanding of how ordinary people struggle to pay bills."

lacking intelligence or the ability to grasp and comprehend ideas

"That was witless."

"The witless plan involved breaking into the bank through the front door in broad daylight while the security cameras recorded everything."

lacking knowledge, understanding, or awareness

"He is unenlightened."

"The unenlightened attitudes of some people still prevent women from achieving equality in the workplace and that needs to change immediately."

lacking knowledge, awareness, or understanding about a particular subject or in general

"I am unknowledgeable about cars."

"The salesperson was completely unknowledgeable about the products he was selling and he could not answer any of the customers' basic questions."

lacking knowledge or education in a particular field

"He is unlearned."

"The unlearned man could not read or write but he was still able to build a successful business through hard work and determination."

lacking insight or the ability to discern and understand things accurately

"She is unperceptive."

"The unperceptive manager did not notice that his best employee was clearly unhappy and she quit without giving any warning or explanation."

lacking intelligence, common sense, or deep thinking

"He is empty-headed."

"The empty-headed celebrity gave a rambling interview that made no sense and everyone wondered how she had ever become famous in the first place."

lacking the habit or ability to notice, perceive, or pay attention to details in one's surroundings

"You are unobservant."

"The unobservant driver did not see the red light and he crashed into another car that had the right of way to cross the intersection."