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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of folly
Building Denver’s largest skyscraper in four decades seemed like the height of folly when Chicago developer Riverside Investment & Development Co. broke ground in April 2022 on the site of a former parking lot.
—
Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 29 May 2025
The first day that happens the Amtrak leaders who insisted on this folly must be fired.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025
After Mao died, new leadership saw the folly of the Maoist doctrine.
—Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Lamia doesn’t know that Bibi has gone into super-grandma mode after realizing the folly of her abandonment plan, parking herself in loud protestation at the police station.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for folly
Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 29 May 2025
The first day that happens the Amtrak leaders who insisted on this folly must be fired.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025
After Mao died, new leadership saw the folly of the Maoist doctrine.
—Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Lamia doesn’t know that Bibi has gone into super-grandma mode after realizing the folly of her abandonment plan, parking herself in loud protestation at the police station.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for folly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folly
Noun
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Defense had planned to argue insanity Purdy’s trial had been scheduled to take place in July.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 June 2025
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The trial was initially scheduled to begin three months ago but was delayed after Abril changed his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
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The there is the early childhood of the people she’s been visiting, most of whom are now in their late 80s or 90s — the innocent pre-World War II days before the round-ups, the concentration camps, the madness, the murder.—
Christine DiMattei,
Sun Sentinel,
18 June 2025
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Irresistible madness: Boca Juniors and Benfica see red, Chelsea ease past LAFC Now then.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
Noun
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All of this exploring and staying open and slow-burn nonsense left us with half the villa coupled up but stagnant — unwilling to stray but unwilling to grow — and the other half hopelessly single.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
25 June 2025
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Sadly, the label would have none of that experimental nonsense.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2025
Noun
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Mika Rottenberg’s work explores the pure absurdities of our current world.—
Nargess Banks,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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These over-the-top moments and the absurdity of its title may be the elements that made Zombi 2 famous, but beneath them is a movie with an eerie, uncanny vibe that's shockingly easy to get lost in.—
James Grebey,
Time,
20 June 2025
Noun
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Young consumers receptive to silk lingerie and sleepwear still demand machine-wash convenience and price sensitivity, while design styles must balance traditional aesthetics with modern tastes—blending simplicity, comfort and a sense of technology.—
SJ Studio,
Sourcing Journal,
24 June 2025
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Each brand employs a strikingly similar aesthetic vocabulary: muted color palettes dominated by whites, blacks, and earth tones; sans-serif typography that suggests clinical precision; and packaging that prioritizes geometric simplicity over ornamental flourish.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
24 June 2025
Noun
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Critics often assume ego, stubbornness, or simply stupidity.—
Robert Pearl,
Twin Cities,
14 June 2025
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The following program will contain graphic stupidity, as four friends compete to embarrass one another – only this time in Lithuania.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
Noun
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Much odder is that red states aren’t taking the blue states up on an arrangement that to some degree erects a fence around economic foolishness.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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Such utter foolishness, by another blind leading the blind, liberal democrat.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
10 June 2025
Noun
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Use it to find and retrieve stray nuts or bolts in any crevice.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2025
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Vegetables like broccoli, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, kale and asparagus are also included in most low-carb diets—as are eggs, cheese, Greek yogurt and nuts like walnuts, peanuts, macadamia nuts and pistachios.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Folly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folly. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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