foolish

adjective

ˈfü-lish How to pronounce foolish (audio)
Definition of foolishnext
1
as in stupid
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment foolish people who thought that the world would end in the year 2000 a foolish scheme that was supposed to make us all rich

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in absurd
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality foolish attempts to construct a perpetual motion machine

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in small
lacking importance the current regulations are cluttered with foolish details that are unnecessarily burdensome

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word foolish different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of foolish are asinine, fatuous, silly, and simple. While all these words mean "actually or apparently deficient in intelligence," foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense.

foolish stunts

Where would asinine be a reasonable alternative to foolish?

The words asinine and foolish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception.

an asinine plot

When could fatuous be used to replace foolish?

The words fatuous and foolish can be used in similar contexts, but fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality.

fatuous conspiracy theories

When is it sensible to use silly instead of foolish?

Although the words silly and foolish have much in common, silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior.

the silly antics of revelers

When is simple a more appropriate choice than foolish?

The meanings of simple and foolish largely overlap; however, simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort.

considered people simple who had trouble with computers

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 foolish Following Ryan Clark's exit, Dennis may be ESPN's most foolish employee left. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Johnson continued this week to push for his foolish and counterproductive desire to impose a $33-per-month tax on each Chicago job generated by the city’s largest private-sector employers. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026 As is, this is a foolish thriller that prompts the occasional snicker but not much more. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement. — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for foolish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolish
  1. stupid
  2. absurd
  3. small
  4. silly
  5. bizarre
  6. minor
  7. insane
  8. unreal
Adjective
  • Far too much coverage of declining trust in science — particularly the anti-vaccine movement — is predicated on the assumption that its adherents are either stupid or crazy.
    — Rick Berke, STAT, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The Dodge Durango Hellcat is the most accessible way to go stupid-fast in a three-row family car thanks to the Escalade V‘s high price tag.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of stupid
Adjective
  • The Appalachian Trail is absolutely brutal The distance alone is obviously absurd, but mileage is only part of what makes the AT such a beast.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The selection process does not judge whether a study is admirable or absurd, good or bad.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of absurd
Adjective
  • That’s a dangerous prospect for any country, but especially for Singapore, crammed into a space smaller than New York City.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • But after home brewers were able to show the appeal of hoppy IPAs, malty stouts and citrusy wheat ales, that eventually led to a boom in small breweries.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • Playing the part largely for laughs, Moore actually has more in common with Lazenby than Connery; his Bond is softer and sillier than the original, an approach Moore would double down on in later films — often to the chagrin of Bond purists.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026
  • For Lance Oppenheim, Primetime’s DNA resides inside a silly Cameo video.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of silly
Adjective
  • The idea that these two would have a five-minute-or-less breakup conversation, then plop down on the couch and happily embark on an acid trip together, strains credulity a little, even for this bizarre, codependent friend group.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Twenty-eight million views on YouTube certified the bizarre piece as a fan favorite.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • Steppach, 49, was the owner of Tim’s Tavern on Edison Avenue, where people protested daily in December after Steppach pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor.
    — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The anger fueled the rise of Sanseito, a minor right-wing party that rallied against immigrants in recent elections, putting pressure on the ruling Liberal Democratic Party government.
    — Christine Miyawaki, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of minor
Adjective
  • Darby hit an insane Coffin Drop from a lighting rig, through the stage on Knight.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • That base price of about $5,000 may sound insane to the average person but likely won’t hurt the pockets of the average Lamborghini customer.
    — Keenan Thompson, Freep.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of insane
Adjective
  • Similarly, for the protagonist of Conrad’s story, Captain Whalley, the true life is the life of ships, and changes of fates onshore seem only laterally relevant, near unreal.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Continue reading … DEFYING GRAVITY — MLB outfielder goes full Spider-Man, makes baseball's catch of the year with unreal grab.
    — , FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of unreal

Browse Nearby Words

fooling (with)
foolish
foolishly
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Cite this Entry

“Foolish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolish. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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