1
as in insanity
a foolish act or idea
the American purchase of Alaska was originally considered a grand folly
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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
Jim Cramer has long believed that taking only a top-down view on picking stocks can be sheer folly.
—
Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2025
Clinton’s folly The idea of connecting New York City to the Great Lakes originated in the late 18th century.
—Matthew Smith, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2025
In his new book, 1929, Sorkin takes the most famous stock crash in history and turns it into a thrilling saga of greed, folly, and despair that resonates with present times.
—Jim Kelly, Air Mail, 11 Oct. 2025
No one knows if Altman’s 250-gigawatt plan will prove to be brilliant or folly.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folly
Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2025
Clinton’s folly The idea of connecting New York City to the Great Lakes originated in the late 18th century.
—Matthew Smith, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2025
In his new book, 1929, Sorkin takes the most famous stock crash in history and turns it into a thrilling saga of greed, folly, and despair that resonates with present times.
—Jim Kelly, Air Mail, 11 Oct. 2025
No one knows if Altman’s 250-gigawatt plan will prove to be brilliant or folly.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 Oct. 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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Crucially, the eggs were fittingly fluffy, none of that rubbery nonsense that plague lesser burrito slingers.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
6 Nov. 2025
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All’s Fair is girlboss nonsense.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The short uses stylized 3D and deadpan timing to explore routine, irritation and faint absurdity.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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Understanding the absurdity of one trillion anything makes the $38 trillion US national debt that economists have been blathering on about for years look almost sensible.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The simplicity makes the robot lighter, cheaper, and easier to operate.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
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For those seeking simplicity, options such as eco-friendly guesthouses, cozy budget inns, or camping at Cinnamon Bay offer affordable ways to stay close to nature.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
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
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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Advertisement With apt timing, manner, and physicality, DiCaprio translates Bob’s foolishness into a dazzling comedic show.—
Robert Daniels,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
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In the world of Saturday Church, there’s no need to uphold binary foolishness.—
Juan A. Ramírez,
Vogue,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Folly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folly. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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