harebrained

adjective

hare·​brained ˈher-ˈbrānd How to pronounce harebrained (audio)

Examples of harebrained in a Sentence

the movie follows the harebrained antics of a pair of stoners who seem incapable of growing up a harebrained idea to go for a hike in an area where grizzly bear attacks had recently been reported
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.
Here are some methods for scraping good music from the data wasteland, organized in a hierarchy from bottom-feeder basics to more sophisticated and ultimately, uhh, harebrained strategies. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 31 July 2025 More harebrained projects follow, and the family’s tilting house finally tumbles after neighbors and acquaintances slowly chip away at the building to repurpose many of the structure’s materials. Anita Snow, Boston Herald, 25 July 2025 Cuomo staying in the race could make for the most unpredictable, harebrained mayoral election that New York has had since 1977. Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 3 July 2025 One of Steve’s harebrained schemes involves founding a movie theater speakeasy, for which the film-loving pair decides to pinch the private print at the following week’s engagement. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for harebrained

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of harebrained was in 1534

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Harebrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harebrained. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

harebrained

adjective
hare·​brained -ˈbrānd How to pronounce harebrained (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on harebrained

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!