as in blunder
a foolish act or idea
writing a sequel to a Jane Austen novel must be regarded as a literary bêtise of the highest order
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bêtise
Noun
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The blunder occurred while Trump, 78, was speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews military facility in Maryland after giving a speech at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 14.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025 -
The longer-term question is how much more patience and grace Trump’s base will grant Bondi, who already bears scars as the central figure in arguably the administration’s earliest blunder.—
David Catanese,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Despite his confession, Moseley pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity at the trial for Kitty's slaying.—
Jessica Sager,
People.com,
13 Mar. 2025
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Smith’s attorneys argued that he should be found not guilty by reason of insanity, records show.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Pope Francis Reflects on Illness, Calls War 'Absurd' as Recovery Progresses Pope Francis said in a letter published Tuesday that his lengthy illness has given him greater clarity on the absurdity of war, renewing his call for diplomacy and stronger international institutions.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
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The collection reveals how his seemingly simple line evolved into a profound artistic language capable of expressing both the gravity and the absurdity of peacetime and war.—
Françoise Mouly,
The New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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See above to see the folly of the inflation definition.—
John Tamny,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
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Events have called them to lead us through a high tide of reckless folly.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Beausoleil makes that claim, and argues that stupidity and self-preservation is also a sound reason for the Manson murders.—
Jake Kring-Schreifels,
TIME,
7 Mar. 2025
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Brooks – an author of books on the human condition -- is careful to delineate stupidity from intelligence.—
John Baldoni,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Bêtise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/b%C3%AAtise. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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