retarded

/rɪˈtɑrdɪd/

/rɪˈtɑdɪd/

Retarded is a word to describe someone who is mentally slow. This is a medical word that spread to slang, and is today considered very insulting and inappropriate.

Some uses of retarded are harmless, like if you said wearing a backpack retarded or slowed down your progress on a hike. However, if you use retarded to mean stupid, you're on dangerous ground. Out of respect for people who have clinical mental retardation, this is considered an offensive term to throw around.

Definitions of retarded

1. adjective

   (informal and offensive) relatively slow in mental or emotional or physical development
   synonyms:

   stupid, unintelligent

   lacking intelligence

   backward, feebleminded, half-witted, slow-witted

   delayed or behind in intellectual development

   idiotic, imbecile, imbecilic

   having a mental age of three to seven years

   moronic

   having a mental age of between eight and twelve years

   cretinous

   afflicted with cretinism

   delayed

   not as far along as normal in development

   dim-witted, simple, simple-minded

   lacking mental capacity and subtlety

   antonyms:

   precocious

   characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)

   intelligent

   having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree

   advanced

   farther along in physical or mental development
2. noun

   (informal and offensive) people collectively who are mentally retarded
   synonyms: developmentally challenged, mentally retarded

   type of:

   people

   (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively