1
as in insanity
lack of good sense or judgment
the foolishness of going off to search for the fountain of youth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
couldn't listen to another second of their foolishness, so I told them to be quiet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stupidness
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind
you didn't fail the test because of any innate foolishness but because of a lack of preparation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foolishness
The Lakers were, again, the Lakers — the version from early this season that made optimism seem nothing like foolishness.
—
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
After being laid off from the local hot dog factory and being inducted into a new basic income program, Mark and Hank have plenty of time on their hands to spend their $3,000 monthly checks on high jinks and foolishness.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Sep. 2024
Five glorious days for Chiles, who already had been made to endure the rollercoaster of gymnastics rule foolishness.
—Dana O'Neil, The Athletic, 10 Aug. 2024
The leaders of the current protests understand, too, that there is no overestimating the foolishness of many of today’s lemming students who will follow any radical opposition to establishment values.
—Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for foolishness
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
After being laid off from the local hot dog factory and being inducted into a new basic income program, Mark and Hank have plenty of time on their hands to spend their $3,000 monthly checks on high jinks and foolishness.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Sep. 2024
Five glorious days for Chiles, who already had been made to endure the rollercoaster of gymnastics rule foolishness.
—Dana O'Neil, The Athletic, 10 Aug. 2024
The leaders of the current protests understand, too, that there is no overestimating the foolishness of many of today’s lemming students who will follow any radical opposition to establishment values.
—Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for foolishness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolishness
Noun
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In 2013, Tyree Smith was found not guilty by reason of insanity in relation to the 2012 killing of Angel Gonzalez, whose body was discovered after he was hacked to death in a vacant apartment in Bridgeport, per NPR.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
23 Feb. 2025
-
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing, expecting different results.—
NBC News,
NBC News,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
First off, the bulk of the trailer is Shrek and company scrolling through fantasy TikTok courtesy of the magic mirror, which shows dancing Shrek, shirtless Shrek and other nonsense, apparently posted by Pinocchio.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Spouted a bunch of nonsense conspiracy theories about who’s getting Social Security benefits.—
Brian Barrett,
WIRED,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
To halt the madness and ensure a reasonable public discourse, Christians need to be honest with themselves: the election of Donald Trump is the will of the people, not necessarily the will of God.—
B.G. White,
Hartford Courant,
18 Feb. 2025
-
This absolutely glorious five-second clip from TNT perfectly encapsulates the madness and requires several viewings to fully appreciate its beauty.—
Tim Spiers,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
And that's where a consideration of stupidity is essential.—
John Baldoni,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
-
But somehow my stupidity and negligence caused the fire.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The end result was the most complicated sports watch of its age with an impressive thickness of just 7.5mm, just 0.4mm thicker than the revolutionary ref 5402 but with an abundance more complexity.—
Thomas Wojtowicz,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
That being said, this finishing layer is generally extremely thin—only about the thickness of a couple of sheets of paper.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Initially, the app focused on simplicity, offering basic filters and a chronological feed.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
24 Feb. 2025
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Her effortless bob complemented the simplicity of the gown and her red-orange lip and nails played well off of the design’s midnight blue hue.—
Erin Jensen,
USA TODAY,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Film Constellation has boarded sales on Oscar Hudson’s Straight Circle, a dark comedy on the absurdities of conflict, and revealed a first image as principal photography wraps in South Africa.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2025
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Why such absurdity in a film about human connection?—
Stuart Miller,
Orange County Register,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The property also grows its own herbs, greens, nuts, berries, and edible flowers.—
Bianca Salonga,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Focus on whole foods like fruits, leafy green vegetables, fatty fish, nuts, and seeds.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
5 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to foolishness
Cite this Entry
“Foolishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolishness. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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