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Cretin - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

cretin

/ˈkriːtn̩/ /ˈkrɛtɪn/

Definition:

A person who is stupid or lacking intelligence, often due to a medical condition like congenital hypothyroidism.

Synonyms:

fool, idiot, imbecile, moron

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

genius, intellectual

Common Collocations:

utter cretin, complete cretin, act like a cretin

Derivatives:

cretinism, cretinous

Usage Tips:

Use "cretin" carefully as it can be offensive; it originally referred to someone with a medical condition causing stunted growth and mental impairment.

Common Phrases:

call someone a cretin, behave like a cretin

Etymology:

From French "crétin," derived from Swiss French "crestin," meaning "Christian" (used euphemistically for someone with mental disabilities).

Examples:

  • 1. He called his brother a cretin for forgetting the keys again.
  • 2. The teacher scolded the student for acting like a complete cretin in class.
  • 3. She regretted calling him a cretin during their argument.
  • 4. In old medical texts, untreated hypothyroidism could lead to cretinism.

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