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
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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This insanity has to stop before anyone else gets hurt.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Though his legal team argued insanity, Guiteau was found guilty of murder in January 1882 and executed five months later.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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What starts as a cathartic process spirals out-of-control, as the line between justice and madness blurs.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
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The American people will hate this madness, but that makes no difference to a president increasingly unmoored from reality.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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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People often confuse quirkiness with stupidity.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
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Why should Curtis have to back down to **maybe** save that city from its own stupidity?—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
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But my naivete and idiocy about what this was going to take was staggering to me just six months later.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Aug. 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 19 Nov. 2025.
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