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Retarded vs Idiotic - What's the difference?

retarded | idiotic |

As adjectives the difference between retarded and idiotic

is that retarded is delayed; delayed in development, hindered; impeded while idiotic is pertaining to or resembling an idiot; afflicted with idiocy.

As a verb retarded

is (retard).

retarded

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Delayed; delayed in development, hindered; impeded.
  • * 2004 , Duncan Mackay, The Observer , 8 Aug 2004:
    • HGH, which was originally developed to assist children with retarded growth, is believed to be especially popular with sprinters.
  • (chiefly, North America) Underdeveloped (of a person's intelligence, abilities etc.).
  • * 2000 , Kate Connolly, The Guardian , 19 Apr 2000:
    • The European Roma Rights Centre in Budapest, which is representing the children - from the north-eastern city of Ostrava - said that the education ministry and local authorities had for decades "perpetuated a system which routinely brands disproportionate numbers of Gypsies as mentally retarded ".
  • (colloquial, derogatory) Stupid, dumb.
  • * 1988 , Raymond E Feist, Faerie Tale :
    • Looking at Jack, Gabbie said, "What?" "That's the Troll Bridge." She groaned at the pun. "That's retarded ."
  • (physics) Designating a parameter of an electromagnetic field which is adjusted to account for the finite speed of radiation.

    • Verb

    (head)
  • (retard)

    • idiotic

    English

    Alternative forms

    * ?idiotick (qualifier)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Pertaining to or resembling an idiot; afflicted with idiocy.
  • Having the quality of idiocy; very foolish; stupid; nonsensical.

    • Synonyms

    * (l)

    Related terms

    * idiocy * idiot * idiotically

    References

    * *