stultify

[ stuhl-tuh-fahy ]
/ ˈstʌl təˌfaɪ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR stultify ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), stul·ti·fied, stul·ti·fy·ing.

to make, or cause to appear, foolish or ridiculous.
to render absurdly or wholly futile or ineffectual, especially by degrading or frustrating means: Menial work can stultify the mind.
Law. to allege or prove (oneself or another) to be of unsound mind.

Origin of stultify

1760–70; < Late Latin stultificāre, equivalent to Latin stult(us) stupid + -i- -i- + -ficāre -fy

OTHER WORDS FROM stultify

Words nearby stultify

stuffy, stuiver, stuka, stukkend, stull, stultify, stum, stumble, stumble across, stumblebum, stumbling block

Words related to stultify

mock, hinder, prevent, smother, cripple, suffocate, negate, stifle, nullify, impair, inhibit, ridiculous

Example sentences from the Web for stultify

British Dictionary definitions for stultify

stultify
/ (ˈstʌltɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)

to make useless, futile, or ineffectual, esp by routine
to cause to appear absurd or inconsistent
to prove (someone) to be of unsound mind and thus not legally responsible

Derived forms of stultify

stultification, noun stultifier, noun

Word Origin for stultify

C18: from Latin stultus stupid + facere to make