as in insanities
a foolish act or idea
the American purchase of Alaska was originally considered a grand folly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of follies
And now the supercilious Ivy League twits try to dodge the consequences of their woke follies.
—
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Dec. 2025
The follies of youth can go both ways.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
And then the follies of the ensuing play, which supplanted the earlier stand at the very same spot on the field as the most indelible and revealing snapshot of the game.
—Chris Ochsner, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
Asimov's original idea was to conceive a sound system by which humanity's foibles and follies could be traced and tracked over centuries.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2025
His style is Olympian on the surface, the ironic detachment of his pictures casting a cold, curious eye at humanity’s follies and derangements.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Dec. 2025
The follies of youth can go both ways.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
And then the follies of the ensuing play, which supplanted the earlier stand at the very same spot on the field as the most indelible and revealing snapshot of the game.
—Chris Ochsner, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
Asimov's original idea was to conceive a sound system by which humanity's foibles and follies could be traced and tracked over centuries.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2025
His style is Olympian on the surface, the ironic detachment of his pictures casting a cold, curious eye at humanity’s follies and derangements.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for follies
Noun
-
Working with Chhaya clients who were facing foreclosure, Mamdani got an intimate look at the little insanities of the city’s housing crisis.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Amid these absurdities, Manuel coaxes out the cruelty of the resort’s hierarchies.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
-
She’s built a career on candid takes about relationships, work and the absurdities of everyday life, delivered with her trademark mix of bluntness and charm.—
Travis Pinson,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Follies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/follies. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
