FOLLY Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

folly

noun

ˈfä-lē

Definition of folly

as in insanity

a foolish act or idea the American purchase of Alaska was originally considered a grand folly

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as in madness

lack of good sense or judgment in all my folly, I didn't think about how my actions would hurt my father

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as in nonsense

language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense enough of this folly about moving to the Australian outback

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of folly Digger epitomizes the difference between big swing and hubristic folly more than any film since Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, another wildly ambitious bid to skewer the chaos of contemporary reality. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026 Compounded by the sudden passing of Lily’s grandfather—which renders her initial motivation to study Mandarin moot—these follies only deepen beneath a veil of complicated mourning. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026 The idea that any neighborhood can insulate itself from the effects of demand that far outstrips supply is folly. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026 The broader opportunity costs of the United States’ Middle Eastern follies are even more insidious. — Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for folly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for folly

Noun

Claiming that white skin color is why Bueckers and other white women have had success/opportunities, is insanity.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
And that was like Vitalogy, probably the peak of the insanity.

— Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of insanity

Noun

In the eyes of the conferences, and CFP committee, the allure of a postseason bid is the carrot that would dangle in front of them so that fans would look the other way at the nonsense this creates for the football played in September or October.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
My fellow relishers of Trowbridge nonsense, today is our day of jubilee.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of nonsense

Noun

Learning that countless more people will lose their lives on account of his neglect, greed, and stupidity, he is pressed, reluctantly, into a most self-serving mode of damage control.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026
Nerdiest song for drummers This will probably come down to stupidity.

— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of stupidity

Noun

Early on, Sakurai exploits the inherent absurdity of telling a story populated by so many ludicrous characters.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Unlike Gregor Samsa who is confined to his room after transforming into a huge insect, the protagonist still has to go to work, a dark and bleak absurdity that lays bare the alienation, isolation, and hypocrisy of modern life.

— Deadline, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of absurdity

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folly

foment

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“Folly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folly. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of folly

noun

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