foolish

adjective

fool·​ish ˈfü-lish How to pronounce foolish (audio)
1
: having or showing a lack of good sense, judgment, or discretion
a foolish mistake
She takes foolish risks.
2
a
: absurd, ridiculous
He looked foolish in that hat.
b
: marked by a loss of composure : nonplussed
He felt foolish when he couldn't remember where he had parked the car.
3
foolishly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for foolish

simple, foolish, silly, fatuous, asinine mean actually or apparently deficient in intelligence.

simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort.

considered people simple who had trouble with computers

foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense.

foolish stunts

silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior.

the silly antics of revelers

fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality.

fatuous conspiracy theories

asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception.

an asinine plot

Examples of foolish in a Sentence

He was wearing a foolish grin. She's been taking foolish risks. Those flashy clothes make her look foolish. She must feel foolish wearing those flashy clothes. I never thought you'd be foolish enough to believe him.
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.
People hesitated, unsure of how to play with something new without looking foolish. Cas Holman, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025 Ellis advises parents that even if teens make a few purchases that seem frivolous or foolish, instilling good financial habits is what’s most important. Yolande Clark-Jackson, Parents, 20 Oct. 2025 But if Ross decides to dump McDaniel, it would be justified after Sunday’s lifeless effort littered with penalties (11 for 103), foolish mistakes and the appearance of a team that was unprepared and disinterested. Barry Jackson updated October 19, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 Misiorowski had made Edman look foolish in their first matchup, getting the infielder to swing through a wicked curveball. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for foolish

Word History

Etymology

see fool entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

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Cite this Entry

“Foolish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foolish. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

foolish

adjective
fool·​ish ˈfü-lish How to pronounce foolish (audio)
: lacking in good sense or judgment : silly
foolishly adverb
foolishness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on foolish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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