foolhardy

adjective

fool·​har·​dy ˈfül-ˌhär-dē 

: foolishly adventurous and bold : rash

a foolhardy explorer

foolhardy investors

foolhardily

ˈfül-ˌhär-dᵊl-ē 

adverb

foolhardiness

ˈfül-ˌhär-dē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of foolhardy

• reckless
• courageous
• brave
• daredevil
• adventurous

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

Perhaps most impressive is the comedy’s nail-biting opening scene, as Matt and Jay decide to stage a publicity stunt of them leaping from the top of Toronto’s 116-story CN Tower and skydiving into a major baseball stadium, all in a foolhardy attempt to promote the band. —Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026

So Sumrall’s original words may have felt foolhardy, even fake. —Noah White, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026

History suggests that declaring a front-runner in a presidential campaign nearly three years before Election Day is foolhardy to the point of recklessness. —Adam Lashinsky, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026

Being polarized too far on either side feels foolhardy; while an aggressive ban might be too much for how nuanced and new this technology is, that doesn’t mean DSPs should throw their hands up and let culture-appropriating refuse pollute popular playlists. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for foolhardy

• sephardi
• hardie
• lardy
• pardy
• tardy

Kids Definition

foolhardy

adjective

fool·​har·​dy ˈfül-ˌhärd-ē 

: foolishly adventurous or bold

foolhardily

-ˌhärd-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

foolhardiness

-ˌhärd-ē-nəs 

noun