1
as in insanity
a foolish act or idea
the American purchase of Alaska was originally considered a grand folly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in madness
lack of good sense or judgment
in all my folly, I didn't think about how my actions would hurt my father
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
enough of this folly about moving to the Australian outback
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of folly
But that’s the folly of blindly looking ahead.
—
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
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
Nuance and curiosity carry this tale of a compulsively ambitious man who rose from the depths of poverty on a California lemon ranch to the highest perch of American superpower before burning his wings on the folly of his own paranoia and insecurities.
—Tim Greiving, HollywoodReporter, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folly
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
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
Nuance and curiosity carry this tale of a compulsively ambitious man who rose from the depths of poverty on a California lemon ranch to the highest perch of American superpower before burning his wings on the folly of his own paranoia and insecurities.
—Tim Greiving, HollywoodReporter, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folly
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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But there was some method to the madness here, as UConn, which didn’t take a free throw in the first half, took 18 in the second half and OT.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
8 Jan. 2026
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Ditlevsen writes beautifully, and her sly and specific humor always manages to both undercut and deepen the madness and love in all of her books.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That rule is nonsense — especially with two applicants who pretty clearly spend most of their time in Tallahassee, and two who work in Lakeland.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
-
But the residency rule is nonsense.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
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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Behind the classy presentation is a working-class spirit, one that honors the simplicity of showing up, being yourself and doing your job.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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The rover’s two-wheel design reflects UEL’s emphasis on surface mobility and system simplicity.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
So please excuse my ignorance and stupidity here, but.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
17 Dec. 2025
-
That’s how stupidity often is—causing problems, but also presenting opportunities.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
5 Dec. 2025
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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Navarro devoted a chapter to the seductive foolishness of protectionist trade policies.—
Ian Parker,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
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The captain of the boat Zoë and Sarah came on watches them from afar, shaking his head at English foolishness.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
3 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Folly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folly. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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