foolhardy

adjective

fool·​har·​dy ˈfül-ˌhär-dē How to pronounce foolhardy (audio)
: foolishly adventurous and bold : rash
a foolhardy explorer
foolhardy investors
foolhardily adverb
foolhardiness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for foolhardy

adventurous, venturesome, daring, daredevil, rash, reckless, foolhardy mean exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense.

adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

Examples of foolhardy in a Sentence

hikers who were foolhardy enough to remain on the summit during a thunderstorm it's foolhardy to go hiking during late fall without warm clothes
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.
Depending on your viewpoint, Google has made either a good trade-off decision or lost its potential in a foolhardy quest for AI. Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025 From this perspective, Putin seems foolhardy in the extreme. Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025 Moynihan stars in Fixed as Lucky, an anxious beagle that's not quite as foolhardy as his pals. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025 But the move would be foolhardy for a largely untested navy. Kerry Brown, Time, 29 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for foolhardy

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“Foolhardy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foolhardy. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

foolhardy

adjective
fool·​har·​dy ˈfül-ˌhärd-ē How to pronounce foolhardy (audio)
: foolishly adventurous or bold
foolhardily adverb
foolhardiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on foolhardy

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