Word Study
simpleton
CIDE DICTIONARY
simpleton, n. [Cf. F. simplet, It. semplicione.].
A person of weak intellect; a silly person. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
simpleton, n. a foolish, gullible, or halfwitted person.
Etymology
SIMPLE after surnames f. place-names in -ton
THESAURUS
simpleton
ament, born fool, bungler, clot, congenital idiot, cretin, defective, dullard, dullhead, dumbbell, dummkopf, dummy, golem, half-wit, idiot, ignoramus, imbecile, juggins, mongoloid idiot, moron, natural, natural idiot, natural-born fool, simp, stupid, zanyROGET THESAURUS
simpleton
Fool
N fool, idiot, tomfool, wiseacre, simpleton, witling, dizzard, donkey, ass, ninny, ninnyhammer, chowderhead, chucklehead, dolt, booby, Tom Noddy, looby, hoddy-doddy, noddy, nonny, noodle, nizy, owl, goose, goosecap, imbecile, gaby, radoteur, nincompoop, badaud, zany, trifler, babbler, pretty fellow, natural, niais, child, baby, infant, innocent, milksop, sop, oaf, lout, loon, lown, dullard, doodle, calf, colt, buzzard, block, put, stick, stock, numps, tony, bull head, dunderhead, addlehead, blockhead, dullhead, loggerhead, jolthead, jolterhead, beetlehead, beetlebrain, grosshead, muttonhead, noodlehead, giddyhead, numbskull, thickskull, lackbrain, shallowbrain, dimwit, halfwit, lackwit, dunderpate, lunkhead sawney, gowk, clod, clod-hopper, clod-poll, clot-poll, clot-pate, bull calf, gawk, Gothamite, lummox, rube, men of Boeotia, wise men of Gotham, un sot a triple etage, sot, jobbernowl, changeling, mooncalf, gobemouche, dotard, driveler, old fogey, old woman, crock, crone, grandmother, cotquean, henhussy, incompetent (insanity), greenhorn, dunce, lubber, madman, one who will not set the Thames on fire, one who did not invent gunpowder, qui n'a pas invente' la poudre, no conjuror, fortuna favet fatuis, les fous font les festinas et les sages les mangen, nomina stultorum parietibus harrent, stultorum plena sunt omnia.For further exploring for "simpleton" in Webster Dictionary Online