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 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
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
-
The series highlights the absurdities and hypocrisies therein.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
22 Oct. 2025
-
With a setting both familiar and uniquely alien to all of us watching at home, there are few limits to the kind of absurdities the cast could get into.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Follies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/follies. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share