fatuous

From Latin fatuus (“foolish, silly, simple”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfæt.ju.əs/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfæt͡ʃ.u.əs/

fatuous (comparative more fatuous, superlative most fatuous)

1. Obnoxiously stupid; vacantly silly; content in one's foolishness.
   • 2004, Frank Tallis, Love Sick: Love as a Mental Illness, page 46:

     A fatuous love affair can easily result in a fatuous marriage. A couple who hardly know each other and, indeed, may not even really like each other, make a commitment that has little chance of being honoured.

   • 2020 December 2, Christian Wolmar, “Wales offers us glimpse of an integrated transport policy”, in Rail, page 56:

     While much publicity is given to fatuous 'reversing Beeching' ideas, the reality is that the real investment is focused on expanding the road network - [...].

• (obnoxiously stupid): childish, imbecilic, inane, insipid, puerile