foolishness

noun

fool·​ish·​ness ˈfü-lish-nəs How to pronounce foolishness (audio)
1
: foolish behavior
2
: a foolish act or idea

Examples of foolishness in a Sentence

the foolishness of going off to search for the fountain of youth couldn't listen to another second of their foolishness, so I told them to be quiet
Recent Examples on the Web Mariam, distraught by her mother’s foolishness, finds solace in a secret romance with a fellow student, Asad. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 Operation Lone Star critics say the governor’s heavy-handed approach is more performance art and foolishness than practical. Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 Some remain hopelessly stuck in a loop of infantile foolishness. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024 She was incensed by the foolishness and incompetence of the men running the nation and believed that women were better suited to solve America’s problems. Jonathan W. White, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 No sense of some torturous inner dialogue pulling him from the foolishness of this game show. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2024 The problem, as ever with Trump, is that the performative foolishness serves only to divert attention from the real and serious consequences of the Republican Party’s decision to get behind the defeated ex-President for another go at the White House. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 2 Feb. 2024 Any review of these discreditable events requires recognition of an antidote to this foolishness. Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2024 Zenyatta stay removed from the fray, sidling along like an outsider amused by all the foolishness. Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'foolishness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of foolishness was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near foolishness

Cite this Entry

“Foolishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foolishness. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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