Cretin - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
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.