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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective foolhardy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of foolhardy are adventurous, daredevil, daring, rash, reckless, and venturesome. While all these words mean "exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense," foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

Where would adventurous be a reasonable alternative to foolhardy?

The meanings of adventurous and foolhardy largely overlap; however, adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

When is daredevil a more appropriate choice than foolhardy?

The words daredevil and foolhardy can be used in similar contexts, but daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

When would daring be a good substitute for foolhardy?

The words daring and foolhardy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

When might rash be a better fit than foolhardy?

In some situations, the words rash and foolhardy are roughly equivalent. However, rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

When can reckless be used instead of foolhardy?

While in some cases nearly identical to foolhardy, reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

When is it sensible to use venturesome instead of foolhardy?

While the synonyms venturesome and foolhardy are close in meaning, venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

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 foolhardy However, that was several lifetimes ago, before the distance running boom, when marathoning was the rarest of efforts, widely considered a foolhardy and potentially lethal endeavor. Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 5 Aug. 2024 To ask the most American of movie stars to play this iconic English figure was foolhardy, and his down-to-earth authenticity gets him nowhere in the role. Will Leitch, Vulture, 1 July 2024 Overshadowing the endorsement was a foolhardy rhetorical flourish that insulted key voting blocs courted by the Republican nominee in his campaign against the Democratic nominee, New York Governor Grover Cleveland. Robert B. Mitchell / Made By History, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024 An empathy gap is obvious in online commenters who suggest, for example, that flood victims earned their fate through the foolhardy choice to live near water, that earthquake victims shouldn’t have lived near fault lines, and so on. Hazlitt, 23 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for foolhardy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolhardy
Adjective
  • This is the Republican Party under Trump: shrugging off the well-being of Veterans while pushing reckless cuts.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
  • He was arrested on charges of disobeying the signal of an officer, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, passing on the right, interfering with an officer and first-degree reckless endangerment.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The singer, who made headlines for wearing a daring naked dress by Dundas at the Vanity Fair 2023 Oscars party, returned to the annual event on Sunday, wearing another see-through style.
    Renan Botelho, WWD, 3 Mar. 2025
  • In stereotypical movies, the gallant hero saves the damsel through daring, dramatic action.
    Amanda Nguyen, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Von Blasingame died on Jan. 18, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease and dementia, his family said.
    Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The book’s premise revolves around Zachary, a courageous eight-year-old diagnosed with a terminal pediatric cancer, who has an enlightening dream where God approaches him with a mission.
    Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The actor has also emerged as a brave and outspoken advocate against harassment in the film industry, delivering a message that has served as an example and source of encouragement for many other women in the industry.
    The Glamour editors, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2025
  • That was incredibly brave of your brother and now sister-in-law.
    Taylor Mims, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • That would be daredevil buddies Max and Benj Cave (brothers whose middle names are both Storror), Callum and Sacha Powell (also brothers), Drew Taylor, Toby Segar and Josh Burnett-Blake, who started out simply horsing around, filming pranks and sharing them online.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The Bengal mix feline loves participating in whatever his daredevil owner, Ivan Kuznetsov, does.
    Kelli Bender, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Plenty of tour operators offer adventurous journeys from women: Sisters Traveling Solo, which sold out its 2024 tours; Wild Women Expeditions, an operator with tours in 27 countries; and Adventure Women, founded in 1982.
    Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Often, adventurous children or adults help nature along by prodding the pods open, and blowing the seeds in the silk into the wind.
    Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Foolhardy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolhardy. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

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