adj
Uncommon
clueless
KLOO-luhs
Clueless (adj) means having no understanding of a situation; completely uninformed. Example: “He was clueless about how to fix the car.”
adj
1
Having no understanding of a situation; completely uninformed.
"He was clueless about how to fix the car."
"She felt clueless on her first day at the new job."
How to use clueless
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving no idea what's going on; totally unaware or uninformed.
When to use it
Informal, often used to gently mock someone for not understanding something obvious.
Common pairings
completely clueless
clueless about
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like clueless.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more clueless
- Superlative
- most clueless
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was _____ about how to fix the car.
Etymology
Built from clue plus the suffix -less, meaning "without" — literally "without clues".
Related words
Rhymes for clueless
useless
ageless
wireless
hopeless
homeless
tireless
careless
lifeless
baseless
timeless
loveless
nameless
See all rhymes for clueless →
Frequently asked questions
What does “clueless” mean?
The word “clueless” means having no understanding of a situation; completely uninformed. In plain terms, having no idea what's going on; totally unaware or uninformed.
How do you pronounce “clueless”?
“Clueless” is pronounced KLOO-luhs (/ˈkluː.ləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “clueless” in a sentence?
Here is “clueless” used in a sentence: “He was clueless about how to fix the car.”
What is the opposite of “clueless”?
The opposite of “clueless” — its antonyms — are clueful and informed.
What part of speech is “clueless”?
“Clueless” is an adjective.
Is “clueless” a common word?
“Clueless” is an uncommon word in modern English.
