Thanks to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who used the word to describe President Trump as “a mentally deranged U.S. dotard” this week, Americans rediscovered an arcane, English insult long forgotten. It’s a fun word to say, kind-of naughty, rhyming with the schoolyard word we all know not to use, but perfect as a way to describe someone weak and senile. And trust the Washington Post’s Petula Dvorak to come up with a bunch of great, equally archaic, insults that Trump can use for a great comeback–much better than “Rocket Man”:
- DORBEL, noun, a scholastic pedant, a dolt, from the Dictionary of the Scots Language. Also used interchangeable with the word “dunce”
- DRUXY: adjective, usually referring to wood or timber, having decayed spots in the heartwood. But once used to describe people who may seem good on the outside, but are rotten within.
- CRAPULOUS: adjective, debauched, marked by intemperance, especially in eating or drinking.
- FOPDOODLE: noun, a stupid or insignificant fellow; a fool; a simpleton.
- GORMLESS: adjective, lacking intelligence, stupid.
- GROAK: verb, to look at someone with a watchful or suspicious eye.
- HONEYFUGGLE: Verb, to deceive, cheat or swindle.
- SCOBBERLOTCHER: Noun, someone who avoids hard work like it’s their job.
- SORNER: noun, a person who takes meat and drink from others by force or menaces, without paying for it.
- SNOUTBAND: noun, Old English term for a person who is always interrupting other peoples conversations.
- WANDOUGHT: Noun, A feeble, puny, weak creature; a silly, sluggish, worthless man, another word for impotence.
For some more creative insults, you can check out my older posts, Of Canker-blossomed Fishwives and Faithless Prunes, Shakespearean Insults Infographics, and Famous Writers’ Insults.
[tweetthis]Dotard? Whatever Happened To Crapulous, Gormless or Snoutband?[/tweetthis]
Hmmm… methinks we should bring those words back into everyday English language!!
I blame a bunch of crapulous dotards for letting slide out of fashion in the first place :b
Omg! Crapulous and Fopdoodle! Have to bring them back into common use. Where I come from in England, gormless is still said for someone who is a bit braindead.
I’m impressed! Kudos to you lot for your insulting prowess 😀
Nothing is more cheering than a well-worded insult. Even when it falls short.
Well said. A backhanded compliment is another favorite. I expected someone as brilliant as you to have figured that out already.
Masterful, my friend. Just masterful ?
*Takes bow, exits stage, stumbles, crashes down steps, jumps back up, straightens clothes mumbling, “I meant to do that.”*
And with such finesse, too. Bravo, really. Bravo.
If those two don’t end f**king everybody and everything, they’ll continue to be an endless supply of gifs and tweetstorms.
There’s no lack of entertainment, at least if you enjoy watching a train wreck.
I agree 😀 … but it’s the collateral damage that is concerning.
I’m forwarding this whole list to Kim Jong-un as they all apply to Trump. Might as well broaden everyone’s vocabulary while we lose our healthcare.
Ouch! Do I detect a note of fed-up-ism?
Right from before the start, Nicholas. The rest of the world only sees a sliver of the real destruction going on here.
What a delightfully colourful language we have. We could add ‘hornswaggled’ . It means to be cheated or deceived
Wow, that’s a great one 😀
I think Dotard is a little more biting.
Leslie
Point to Kim, then 🙂
Some good insults here, Nicholas. I wouldn’t call ‘Gormless’ ancient though. I use it almost daily! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
Lol – good to know that creative insults aren’t dead yet 😀
This is awesome! Thanks for posting this. Shared it everywhere.
Thank you for sharing! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 😀
Love it! F.Y.I. I use the word dotard all the time. It’s even in the K’Barthan series somewhere.
Cheers
MTM