1
as in insanity
a foolish act or idea
investing in that company now would be foolery
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2
as in joking
wildly playful or mischievous behavior
let the kids have a little foolery once in a while
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Recent Examples of foolery
Eric Andre, Tyler the Creator and Machine Gun Kelly all drop by to participate in the Jack-foolery.
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David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2022
The whole of humanity doesn’t fit tidily into three acts, even assuming as much frame-breaking foolery as Wilder allows.
—New York Times, 25 Apr. 2022
Political pranking is traditionally thought of as benign foolery targeting the powerful.
—Stanislav Budnitsky, The Conversation, 19 Apr. 2022
Our magpie eyes will always be drawn to foolery and ephemera.
—Giles Hattersley, Vogue, 13 Dec. 2021
Once every ten years, the first of April assumes a far more significant importance than the annual sharing of April foolery.
—James Deutsch, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2020
All the organs of his body were working — bowels digesting food, skin renewing itself, nails growing, tissues forming — all toiling away in solemn foolery.
—John Hirschauer, National Review, 17 Sep. 2019
In memory, during that long-ago evening on the edge of the woods, even my young children were drawn into its whirligig of shipwrecks, twins in disguise, misread letters, wise foolery and foolish wisdom.
—Edward Rothstein, WSJ, 11 July 2019
Elsewhere, the lack of physicality that muted the foolery also seemed a factor affecting many actors’ deliveries.
—Edward Rothstein, WSJ, 11 July 2019
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2022
The whole of humanity doesn’t fit tidily into three acts, even assuming as much frame-breaking foolery as Wilder allows.
—New York Times, 25 Apr. 2022
Political pranking is traditionally thought of as benign foolery targeting the powerful.
—Stanislav Budnitsky, The Conversation, 19 Apr. 2022
Our magpie eyes will always be drawn to foolery and ephemera.
—Giles Hattersley, Vogue, 13 Dec. 2021
Once every ten years, the first of April assumes a far more significant importance than the annual sharing of April foolery.
—James Deutsch, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2020
All the organs of his body were working — bowels digesting food, skin renewing itself, nails growing, tissues forming — all toiling away in solemn foolery.
—John Hirschauer, National Review, 17 Sep. 2019
In memory, during that long-ago evening on the edge of the woods, even my young children were drawn into its whirligig of shipwrecks, twins in disguise, misread letters, wise foolery and foolish wisdom.
—Edward Rothstein, WSJ, 11 July 2019
Elsewhere, the lack of physicality that muted the foolery also seemed a factor affecting many actors’ deliveries.
—Edward Rothstein, WSJ, 11 July 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolery
Noun
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This is reminiscent of the famous remark that this is a fine line between genius and insanity.Lance Eliot, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
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Then again, believing that to be true might just be what insanity looks like from the inside.Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024
Noun
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But hey, at least her particular brand of right-wing tomfoolery isn’t headed down under.Abby Monteil, Them, 28 Oct. 2024
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As Jackman turned 56 on Saturday, Oct. 12, his longtime friend and Deadpool & Wolverine costar wished him a happy birthday with a sweet tribute — and foreshadowed years of tomfoolery to come.Bailey Richards, People.com, 12 Oct. 2024
Noun
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On the floor above a woman sweeps the floor, an act of absurdity that doubles as bravery, the whole scene a desperate attempt at normalcy in a world that has become anything but.Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
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Accentuating the absurdity of the gold rush, one of the screenwriters of Mezrich’s project, Lauren Schuker Blum, was competing with her husband, the producer Jason Blum, who was racing to get HBO’s project developed.Simon van Zuylen-Wood, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Famously, Tommy Lee Jones could not sanction Jim Carrey’s buffoonery on Batman Forever.Bethy Squires, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2024
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But conservatism ought not to be equated with populist buffoonery and mendacity.Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 Oct. 2024
Noun
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But Melina always fascinated Lila — the authenticity of madness, untethered from the social mores that dominated their environment, made sense for Lila.Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
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Schedule madness Schools will play 18 conference games.Beth Harris, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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On my gondola, however, horseplay is not only encouraged, it is required.Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 24 Sep. 2024
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Prosecutors allege Alec Baldwin engaged in ‘horseplay’ and acted recklessly on ‘Rust’ set.Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2024
Noun
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Tirhakah Love is a senior writer at New York Magazine and the host of the new evening newsletter Dinner Party, a daily email that touches on all things entertainment — that means film, television, music, tech, and gaming — plus politics and corporate clownery.Vulture, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2022
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The Winx Club live action is a big clownery!Olivia Truffaut-Wong, refinery29.com, 25 Jan. 2021
Noun
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Inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the film offers a clever and modern twist on the classic mistaken identity trope, blending slapstick comedy with moments of genuine heart.Jane LaCroix, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
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Advertisement The Yankees’ fifth-inning defensive meltdown was pure, Charlie Chaplin-caliber slapstick comedy.Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near foolery
Cite this Entry
“Foolery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolery. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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