Synonyms for Sucker

In an online conversation the other day, I wanted to use the word “gull” to describe someone who was easily fooled. The intended recipients had probably never heard that word used in that context, but they generally like to learn new words and usages. As I was wondering whether to use it, I suddenly wondered whether I’d remembered the term incorrectly and looked it up to double-check. I looked up sucker (Merriam Webster) and stumbled upon a delightful collection of synonyms for “sucker”:

“chump, dupe, gull, mug [chiefly British], patsy, pigeon, pushover, sap, soft touch, tool”

That was just the beginning, though. The related words went on for much longer than I could reasonably have expected:

“cat’s-paw, mark, target, victim, schlemiel (also shlemiel), butt, derision, laughingstock, mock, mockery, booby, dodo, fool, goose, half-wit, jackass, lunatic, monkey, nincompoop, ninny, nitwit, simp, simpleton, turkey, yo-yo, loser, blockhead, dolt, dope, dumbbell, dummy, dunce, idiot, imbecile, moron, schlub (also shlub) [slang], schlump [slang], schnook [slang]”

Wonderful.