BETISE Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

bêtise

noun

bā-ˈtēz

Definition of bêtise

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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for bêtise

Noun

After last week's high-profile blunder saw Erling Haaland wrongly awarded the winning goal against Manchester United, VAR Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus have been stood down for this round of fixtures.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
José Caballero, who had a solo homer and an RBI single, and Ben Rice, who blooped a go-ahead, two-run single, also helped the Yankees overcome a few defensive blunders.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of blunder

Noun

Beavis and Butt-Head function as a note-perfect satire of teenage confidence and idiocy, but the sharpness of the writing has always belied the bottom-of-the-barrel intellect of its title characters.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026
It’s been a classic staple over decades of British comedy, which from Basil Fawlty to David Brent has rejoiced in puncturing pomposity to reveal idiocy and incompetence.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of idiocy

Noun

Descano’s side went along with his insanity defense after approving a mental health evaluation by psychologist Eric Drogin, court records show.

— Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2026
Eleven of the 12 jurors accepted the defense’s argument that Clancy had acute postpartum psychosis and should be found not guilty by reason of insanity.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of insanity

Noun

Compounded by the sudden passing of Lily’s grandfather—which renders her initial motivation to study Mandarin moot—these follies only deepen beneath a veil of complicated mourning.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
At its core, Dark Matter is a series about the folly and hubris of humankind, even when — nay, especially when — idealists have the power to achieve transformative change.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of folly

Noun

This stupidity is tantamount to a cop issuing a summons to someone picking their nose in public to prove that crime is out of control.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
The latest contestant in this recurring game of fiscal stupidity is Miami.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of stupidity

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betimes

bêtise

bêtises

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“Bêtise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/b%C3%AAtise. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of bêtise

noun

Example Sentences

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