folly

noun

ˈfä-lē How to pronounce folly (audio)
Definition of follynext
1
as in insanity
a foolish act or idea the American purchase of Alaska was originally considered a grand folly

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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

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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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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 folly At the same time, the three main actors waited through mounting production delays that threatened to sink Spielberg’s folly. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026 The line between courage and folly is thin as Mars and Uranus align! — Usa Today, USA Today, 4 July 2026 Whereas, in early modern Italy, where the word comes from, the pedante—a professional teacher of Latin—was a figure associated with folly and intellectual overreach. — Clare Bucknell, The New York Review of Books, 27 June 2026 The neoclassical decor of the folly is rather more romantic. — Ian Phillips, Architectural Digest, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for folly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folly
  1. insanity
  2. madness
  3. nonsense
  4. absurdity
  5. simplicity
  6. stupidity
  7. idiocy
  8. foolishness
Noun
  • To put my whole psyche, insecurities, anecdotes, family, community, insanity out there in a show in this way.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 July 2026
  • Colt did not have any signs of insanity, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, Richards said.
    — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Definition of insanity
Noun
  • Except none of it was true — and the real perpetrator behind the madness wasn’t who anyone suspected.
    — Katie Mather, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
  • Their win was a victory for method over the madness that always threatened to be Argentina’s undoing.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of madness
Noun
  • Anyway, Cunningham faced a ton of nonsense from the onset, mainly from the crowd.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • No Instagram gimmicks, no fusion nonsense, just the best version of something that sounds simple but isn't.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
Definition of nonsense
Noun
  • Laughter reframes these experiences from tragedy to absurdity, helping individuals push back against negative aging stereotypes.
    — Jann E. Freed, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • And there’s an absurdity to that scene, which Daeron is feeling just in the shock of it in itself.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 27 July 2026
Definition of absurdity
Noun
  • Delicate Japanese simplicity prevails while leaving whispers of the original French palatial style—such as distinctive moldings that are unique to the building.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • In general, higher-performing LED systems dominate the top of the ratings, while older halogen designs tend to cluster at the bottom, constrained by lower output and less precise beam control, despite offering advantages in simplicity and cost.
    — Matthew MacConnell, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of simplicity
Noun
  • That’s only made worse by the fact that it’s treated as some kind of grand betrayal rather than an impulsive act of youthful stupidity that will make for a good story one day.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
  • Condor, Newton and Hiraga do their best to make Max’s actions believable, but her stubborn stupidity eventually requires more suspension of belief than a highly vindictive shark prowling a freshwater cave right next to the ocean.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of stupidity
Noun
  • No one wants the distraction of bizarre and disturbing behavior, of internet idiocy or civil lawsuits.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
  • And when Torres scored, Fernandez's idiocy only came into greater focus.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of idiocy
Noun
  • Any larger Hollywood studio would have likely insisted on a grander finale, but The Death of Robin Hood, produced by A24, left me pondering the foolishness of my need for such a denouement.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026
  • The popular Instagram page @touronsofnationalparks is known for spotlighting the foolishness of people in national parks.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Definition of foolishness

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Cite this Entry

“Folly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folly. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on folly

Nglish: Translation of folly for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about folly

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