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 governor refused to answer reporter questions on if whoever was responsible for the buyout blunder faced any disciplinary action, instead just confirming that action has been taken.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
8 Jan. 2026 -
Experts say that the painful blunder could undercut trust in the agency and lead to confusion.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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She was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2006 and was placed in a maximum-security psychiatric center in Texas, where she's resided ever since.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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In addition, only 26% of defendants raising the insanity defense were found not guilty by reason of insanity.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Telling the story of the clashing egos and raging idiocy of the fictional Spinal Tap, Reiner both directed and starred as the filmmaker-within-the-film Marty DiBergi.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
15 Dec. 2025
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Advertisement Aster keenly satirizes Joe’s idiocy in the face of social upheaval through the iconography of Westerns.—
Robert Daniels,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But the comedians also used those laughs to reveal the fundamental absurdity of violence and conflict.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
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Rather than focusing solely on superpowers, the series leans into the absurdities and insecurities of the entertainment industry, pulling back the curtain on fame, failure, and second chances.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Reflexively siding with or against law enforcement is folly.—
Megan McArdle,
Washington Post,
10 Jan. 2026
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This is a scrapbook of utopian folly, yes, but also an insider’s look at what was, for a time, the wildest workplace on Earth.—
Boris Kachka,
The Atlantic,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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So please excuse my ignorance and stupidity here, but.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
17 Dec. 2025
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That’s how stupidity often is—causing problems, but also presenting opportunities.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
5 Dec. 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 18 Jan. 2026.
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