bêtise

noun

bā-ˈtēz How to pronounce bêtise (audio)
Definition of bêtisenext
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
  1. blunder
  2. insanity
  3. idiocy
  4. absurdity
  5. folly
  6. stupidity
Noun
  • Many of the Round of 16 matches have been tight, and a defensive blunder or a goalkeeper howler could change the course of a game.
    — Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • Goalkeeper Matt Freese’s costly blunder in the 57th minute was an embarrassment that gifted the Belgians a third goal to all but seal the elimination loss.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
Definition of blunder
Noun
  • McCall tried to create a contrast between the locations, with the Cady clan’s surroundings having an overgrown quality reflecting the uncontrollable insanity at the heart of the family.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
  • Dominguez entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity to the charges.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of insanity
Noun
  • That’s the level of idiocy in the Los Angeles city government.
    — Susan Shelley, Daily News, 13 May 2026
  • The idiocy of these people knows no bounds.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of idiocy
Noun
  • All sorts of factors—religious fervor, drug trips, the absurdities of aging—an unmoor a person’s mind and spirit.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
  • Still, the gleeful absurdity of that concept came with its own humanity.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Definition of absurdity
Noun
  • Adopting the Red Scare tactics of the last century seems unlikely to save Republicans from the political consequences of this folly.
    — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
  • But the most astute recognize the folly of the notion that the military can sidestep politics entirely.
    — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Definition of folly
Noun
  • Here are the three reasons a good employee sits on a great AI discovery, and none of them is stupidity.
    — Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • The stupidity of losing his car was one thing; the cruelty of forcing her to make that choice was quite another.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of stupidity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

betimes
bêtise
bêtises
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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 Jul. 2026.

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