Oct 6, 2008
20 adjectives to replace retarded (because it’s offensive and not that creative anyway)
Like this post?
1. artless
2. asinine
3. bootless
4. cloddish
5. cockamamie
6. crackpot
7. daft
8. derisory
9. doltish
10. dunderheaded
11. farcical
12. fatuous
13. harebrained
14. inane
15. insipid
16. rattlepated
17. risible
18. tomfool
19. vacuous
20. vapid
What else?
* * * * *
Very good…I think another word that needs a make over is the word “stupid”
Boorish
Ridiculous. In the true sense of “deserving of ridicule.” I like that word a lot, because lots of things really do deserve ridicule.
As a parent of 2 kids with Down Syndrome, I think that I might be more offended by the words asinine or harebrained than the common and non-creative word retarded.
Those seem like creative cut-downs instead of using the word retarded just because the person is unaware of an alternative.
Ex: Is she retarded?
I would answer, “In some ways. She has Down Syndrome, and it has delayed her development in some areas…”
Ex 2: Is she cloddish?
I probably wouldn’t answer, but, depending on the situation, harsh language might be in order.
I doubt this was the intent of you post (words describing those with mental handicaps), but I thought a clarification might be helpful.
Call your kid brother who does nothing but play video games and eat potato chips dunderheaded, but not those who are actually retarded in some way.
Yes, Joel, the point is to replace the word retarded as an invective, so that it doesn’t sound insulting when it’s used about a mentally handicapped person.
More broadly, I don’t want to make people’s insults more creative. I think this list should largely be self-applied.
And when it’s pointed outward, it should be at things, usually, not people. Things like movie plots and no-turn-on-red signs.
yeah, but when you call a no-turn-on-red sign “ridic,” as i often do, aren’t you also implicating the person whose idea it was to put it there? it’s not technically the sign’s fault. so i see no reason to discriminate against animate and inanimate insultees most of the time. either do it, or don’t.
My wife works with special needs children and has a mentally retarded brother. Very early in our relationship I learned that labeling something/someone as “retarted” was completely off limits. I’ve become increasingly more sensitive to the usagae of “retarded” as an insult and now consider it to be a completely puerile expression. It’s akin to declaring your dislike for something by saying, “That’s so gay”.
Obtuse.
Imbecilic.
I’m not saying that we should promote or use the word retarded. I agree that we (as a society) need to learn new words for those who are disabled.
If I read your post as “words to describe idiots other than retarded”, then I agree 100%.
But, I don’t want any of those terms used to describe my kids because of their disability.
I think that the current PC terms do a pretty good job… developmentally delayed, differently “abled”, etc… these do a good job of seeking to put person-hood first, and abilities (or lack thereof) second.
But, while we at it, I think the word “special” needs to be replaced as well…
Wouldn’t it simply be better to avoid invectives in general. Of course there are times they are richly deserved, and even the scriptures use words like “stupid” which many people today would call a ‘bad’ word although it is appropriate in the correct situation. Having said that, I find for myself, I have all too great a tendency to use invectives when I am annoyed, rather than seeking to follow the Biblical directive to use my words to build up.
It seems like “retarded” is just plain off limits. I wouldn’t call someone who is developmentally, physically, or mentally delayed “retarded”. It seems tastelessly old fashioned like “negro” or…well, Abraham, you could come up with a few terms that were once acceptable, but are now tasteless or offensive.
I admit that “retarded” feels most appropriate when used to describe how I feel about myself. I know this must sound horribly offensive to some of you and that’s why I blacklisted the word.
I am currently thinking the best replacement just might be “uncreative”. Another solution is to end self-evaluation proclamations.
Jim, invectives in apologies are a good example of how they can be used to build up.
I am sorry if my post about words to use instead of “retarded” offended anyone. It was doltish of me to even go there, especially for something as trifling as an obtuse vocab lesson. I will try to not be so vacuously artless in the future.
The gist of some of the comments is, “it’s silly/harmful to use silly/harmful invectives.”
But if your critique of using these words/concepts actually employs them, don’t you substantiate their usefulness?
lol. I’m not saying there is not a time or a place for invective. However, it seems the tendency I see in myself and many others is not the proper use of invective, but the improper use.
Interestingly enough I was not originally going to respond as I did above, because my first thought was that I am tired of perfectly useful words being removed from my vocabulary because someone finds them offensive. Then I had my second thoughts that considered how easily I use invective, and not in a particularly beneficial manner. Then my third thoughts were what I posted above as I find invectives come to me much too easily so instead of finding more and better ones, perhaps I should seek instead to be very careful and controlled in the words that proceed from my mouth, seeking to use invectives not in the artless manner that my often reactionary nature more often does.
Retarded. Hmmm. I think the whole problem is that here you have a word that was once simply descriptive (not unlike ‘idiot’ – of which retarded was, interestingly enough, a more clinical update). That word become inflamatory and offensive through its prejudicial, negative use. “How retarded” or “what a retard.”
Now that it is inflamatory and associated with prejudice, it is no longer a merely descriptive word. It now has emotional baggage that has become inherent to the word.
So now in popular speech we should use something less offensive to describe “mental retardation” (something like “developmentally disabled” — as someone suggested).
But Abraham’s real point (I’m pretty sure I get this Abraham) was that we shouldn’t really use the term ‘retarded’ as an invective applied to ourselves or to others BECAUSE it implies the offensive prejudice that makes us say “developmentally disabled” when referring to someone who is disabled.
So how do you describe the behavior of someone who turns left into oncoming one way traffic, drives up over a curve onto the light rail tracks and strikes a pay box on the platform shutting down mass transit for hours?
I like Abraham’s list.
Might add “inebriate” (adj) even it if wasn’t technically applicable (which it probably was).
I would add, however, that I’m almost certain whatever word we use to describe clinical developmental disablement will become within a half-generation a term of derision — because the underlying prejudice will not go away.
So what do we do when Kids start saying, “That was so DD” as a way of mocking each other?
How about these:
Blockhead (the obvious one)
Shallow-brained (as in Shallow-brained dandiprat)
Dullard
Also, when someone does something for bad reasons, I prefer to say they are “low” or “low-brow.”
Using “Retarded” is particularly low-brow and demonstrates ignorance and lack of vocabulary.
“stupid” is a biblical word. (Ps 12:1)
“retarded” is more akin to “backwards in development” or “malformed” than any of the words listed so far, so I’d offer these:
- three-legged
- flunked-out
- half-baked
I have been convicted about this lately and am making efforts to take this usage out of my language.
“frustrating” is usually fitting
Duddy head or silly head are sometimes helpful… but I cheated and used two words. Nut case.
Of course, by saying “nut case”, now you are being offensive to people whom are emotionally challenged.
Intent should be the question here. Most people aren’t trying to offend or degrade or emotioanlly destroy the mentally challenged.
Awesome! haha.
Bimboish
Bogleheaded
Chumpish
Eejity
Emptyheaded
Execrable
Mung-y
Numptyish
Pumpkinheaded
Soupy
Spannerish
Spung-y
Tattiehowking
Turnipy
Wazzocky
Ok … where are you from, Ed, that you know all these words?
I know retarded is offensive to some people, but that’s what makes it useful to say; it expresses your feeling strongly.
I like blockhead personally.
Ashamedly, I’ve used the word retarded (in a humorous way) but I’ve sought to change that. It’s impolite at best and often insensitive. Blockhead reminds me of Charlie Brown so it carries a bit of innocence and playfulness with it.
This whole idea seems a little pointless.
No matter what word you use, if you say it with nastiness in your heart, then you’ve done someone some wrong.
Hmmm. convicted so early in the morning…. what a way to start my Wednesday. (note to self: must.memorize.Abraham’s.wordlist)
@ Myrddin – Glasgow, Scotland.
So…following our general concerns to their distant conclusion…will there remain at that place any legitimate use for the word “retarded”?
I find it uncomfortable to think even the 20 substitutes listed would be casually used.
Do those of you posting find that you or yours do often verbally refer to things that others do in these ways?
I acknowledge that I certainly respond “inside” with reactions…but I usually don’t verbalize it because I recognize the quicksand that I’m putting myself in.
I realize on re-reading some of the posts that in my initial response above I was assuming these words being applied to people, and that is not necessarily what is intended. However, I still would limit myself as far as how many times a week I want to be finding it necessary to express how I feel toward “things” (signs, events, situations) as being boorish or vapid!! That begins to feel like simply looking for opportunities to be offended.
Lame
Dumb (classic)
Liberal (did I type that?)
Hey, per a previous post, what do you think about “Lame Ass”… or it’s neutered cousin “Lame-A”. I don’t verbalize that one very often, but maybe I should start.
“Lame ass”… now you’re insulting person who’s limb has been destroyed through injury of sickness.
Fatuous, vacuous & vapid are the only ones on the list with the right combinations of stressed syllables and hard consonants to replace retarded‘s most vituperative uses. Calling something or someone derisory could just never sting, you know?
muffin head
wanker
how about retarded?
yeah, I like retarded
this list is retarded
This list is not especially helpful. The 22 replacement words ARE offensive; if you want to insult someone, why NOT use the word retarded? They sky’s the limit on insults! I found this page through a google search and was looking for a simple word to replace “retarded” when I mean “developmentally delayed.”
Crackpot, daft, and tomfool are acceptable? Who are you insulting with those comments???
Retarded means:
1. A slowing down or hindering of progress; a delay.
2. Relatively slow in mental or emotional or physical development; “providing a secure and sometimes happy life for the retarded”
3. In music, a slackening of tempo.
4. Used as a disparaging term for a mentally retarded person.
5. A person considered to be foolish or socially inept.
6. To keep delaying; to continue to hinder; to prevent from progress; to render more slow in progress; to impede; to hinder; as, to retard the march of an army; to retard the motion of a ship; — opposed to accelerate.
7. To put off; to postpone; as, to retard the attacks of old age; to retard a rupture between nations.
I say queer all the time. I am not referring to homosexuals. The word means “odd, strange, eccentric” as well as a reference to gays. In fact the word gay also means “happy”. As in the Flintstones, “we’ll have a gay old time”.
If I say “I’m retarded” I am not trying to offend people with disabilities, I am saying I am slow in some way at that moment; ie., I am foolish or socially inept. The point is, INTENT should be the ultimate decider. But if you are important to me and this offends you, I will try to be more careful with your feelings.
The problem with demonizing words rather than teaching compassion is that you end up chasing words without promoting understanding. “Retard” was a PC replacement for words like imbecile, idiot, moron, etc. 5 years from now, kids in elementary school will be calling each other “challenged” and we’re going to have to redefine challenged people as “dunderheaded” or something.