1
as in insanity
a foolish act or idea
the American purchase of Alaska was originally considered a grand folly
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in madness
lack of good sense or judgment
in all my folly, I didn't think about how my actions would hurt my father
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
enough of this folly about moving to the Australian outback
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of folly
This extravagant, cartoonish, and shockingly unfunny folly about the hysteria surrounding a Japanese invasion of California shows a boy-wonder director testing his limits — and overstepping them.
—
Chris Nashawaty,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 June 2026
Organizations that have spent decades pretending that the best way to find a new audience is to alienate your existing one are beginning to realize the cost of their folly.
—
Philip Kennicott,
Washington Post,
7 June 2026
Here, human folly moves against a backdrop of horror and magic.
—
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
According to Sosnick, investors today may be too focused on companies’ rosy short-term guidance and assuming the good times will last — one of the many follies of those who got burned in 2000.
—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for folly
Chris Nashawaty,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 June 2026
Organizations that have spent decades pretending that the best way to find a new audience is to alienate your existing one are beginning to realize the cost of their folly.
—
Philip Kennicott,
Washington Post,
7 June 2026
Here, human folly moves against a backdrop of horror and magic.
—
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
According to Sosnick, investors today may be too focused on companies’ rosy short-term guidance and assuming the good times will last — one of the many follies of those who got burned in 2000.
—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for folly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folly
Noun
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Bland was obsessed with religion, but that did not amount to insanity, the prosecutor argued.
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Part of what drew him to the case, Burton said, was that many of the issues relevant then are still relevant today, like the death penalty, the use of the insanity defense, parole and rehabilitation.
Noun
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Is this just a salary dump, or is there a method to the madness for the Wolves?
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Welcome to the Amazon Prime Day 2026 madness!
Noun
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Even Hauser can’t rescue this culturally insensitive, stereotype-perpetuating nonsense.
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Some beer companies even make canned versions of the drink, but forget that nonsense — there is nothing better than a fresh, handmade michelada.
Noun
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Brooks also taught Wilder how to take something funny, push it all the way to the point of absurdity, then keep going.
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The second lady is perhaps the most interesting figure in Trumpworld right now, and certainly the only one who understands the absurdity of it all.
Noun
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Light and Breezy One of the many virtues of the ’60s shift is its simplicity.
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The collection expressed an idea of contemporary simplicity, built through precise proportions, evolved materials and a new visual lightness.
Noun
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Which again, highlights the stupidity of allowing these exceptions in the first place.
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Final negotiations on ‘Peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way.
Noun
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That’s the level of idiocy in the Los Angeles city government.
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The idiocy of these people knows no bounds.
Noun
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Any larger Hollywood studio would have likely insisted on a grander finale, but The Death of Robin Hood, produced by A24, left me pondering the foolishness of my need for such a denouement.
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The popular Instagram page @touronsofnationalparks is known for spotlighting the foolishness of people in national parks.
Cite this Entry
“Folly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folly. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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