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idiotically

B2
adverb

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ˌɪdɪˈɒtɪkli/

US

  • /ˌɪdiˈɑtɪkli/

Description

To do something idiotically means to act in a very foolish way, with little common sense. It is stronger than simply being careless; it suggests a mistake that seems obvious and avoidable. You might idiotically leave your keys inside a locked house or idiotically trust someone who is clearly lying. The action is usually not meant to be harmful, but it often leads to bad results. The word is often used with frustration or disbelief, as if someone made a bad choice they should have known not to make.

Examples

  1. 1

    Travel mistake

    He idiotically left his passport in the hotel safe on the morning of the flight.

  2. 2

    Scheduling mistake

    I idiotically agreed to help before I looked at my calendar.

  3. 3

    Safety warnings

    The company had idiotically ignored the safety warnings for months.

  4. 4

    Sentence opener

    Idiotically, we trusted the only map that was ten years old.

    • Grammar

      At the start of a sentence, idiotically judges the whole action.

  5. 5

    Excessive time

    We had to get up idiotically early to catch the first ferry.

    • Usage

      idiotically early

      much too early; informal and strongly expressive

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • idioticallyadverb