foolish

adjective

fool·​ish ˈfü-lish How to pronounce foolish (audio)
1
: having or showing a lack of good sense, judgment, or discretion
a foolish mistake
She takes foolish risks.
2
a
: absurd, ridiculous
He looked foolish in that hat.
b
: marked by a loss of composure : nonplussed
He felt foolish when he couldn't remember where he had parked the car.
3
foolishly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for foolish

simple, foolish, silly, fatuous, asinine mean actually or apparently deficient in intelligence.

simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort.

considered people simple who had trouble with computers

foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense.

foolish stunts

silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior.

the silly antics of revelers

fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality.

fatuous conspiracy theories

asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception.

an asinine plot

Examples of foolish in a Sentence

He was wearing a foolish grin. She's been taking foolish risks. Those flashy clothes make her look foolish. She must feel foolish wearing those flashy clothes. I never thought you'd be foolish enough to believe him.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The authors concluded that any attempt to create a synthetic substance to replace the mud — something Major League Baseball has explored — would be foolish. Evan Bush, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024 To end its losing tradition, Colorado has to stop making foolish choices with its payroll. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 2 Nov. 2024 Ignoring its naval implications — off the coast of Yemen, for example — would be foolish. Colin Demarest, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024 For one country to blindly follow the interests of another is foolish at best and malfeasance at worst. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for foolish 

Word History

Etymology

see fool entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of foolish was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near foolish

Cite this Entry

“Foolish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foolish. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

foolish

adjective
fool·​ish ˈfü-lish How to pronounce foolish (audio)
: lacking in good sense or judgment : silly
foolishly adverb
foolishness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on foolish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!