The outspoken atheist and evolutionary biologist took to Twitter to criticise Ahmed Mohamed, as the boy's family sued the city and school district in Irving for $15m while demanding an apology for their treatment of the teen.
The 14-year-old, who is Muslim, was arrested and led away in handcuffs in September after he brought to school some clock parts, which a teacher mistook for an explosive device.
As #IStandWithAhmed trended on social media amid a nationwide outpouring of sympathy, US President Barack Obama invited the teenager to the White House.
Dawkins tweeted on Tuesday: "Don't call him 'clock boy' since he never made a clock. Hoax Boy, having hoaxed his way into the White House, now wants $15M in addition!"
When Twitter users criticised the 74-year-old God Delusion author for "picking on a kid", he defended himself.
Dawkins posted a link to a news story with a photo of a child Islamic State recruit beheading a prisoner.
"'But he's only a kid.' Yes, a 'kid' old enough to sue for $15M those whom he hoaxed. And how old is this 'kid'?" tweeted Dawkins, linking to the article.
One person tweeted back: "I used to look up to you. Your books opened my mind w I was a kid. Now you're doing sloppy reactionary thinking; saddens me."
After a welter of criticism, Dawkins tweeted: "Just fed up with people saying of the click [sic] hoax boy, 'He's only a kid', as though that means he can't be criticised."
It is not the first time the academic has triggered a social media firestorm over a provocative tweet.
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