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
The past half century reveals a record not of strategic brilliance, but of consistent folly, as the regime has waged wars badly—failing to achieve its objectives, creating new enemies, and inflicting more damage on itself than on others.
—
Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Evidence that the Democrats are not concerned about the cost of their folly found a place in the emergency bill.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026
The commercial or enterprise ramifications of this folly were low stakes.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
But controlling the weather, at least as Irving Langmuir envisioned it, was just plain folly.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for folly
Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Evidence that the Democrats are not concerned about the cost of their folly found a place in the emergency bill.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026
The commercial or enterprise ramifications of this folly were low stakes.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
But controlling the weather, at least as Irving Langmuir envisioned it, was just plain folly.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for folly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folly
Noun
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In this world, at this time, a little insanity can go a long way.—
Neil Senturia,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
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Kennedy calls fortification ‘insanity’ That view contrasts sharply with critics — including some at the highest level of government — who regard fortification of the food supply as a form of government overreach.—
Jonel Aleccia,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Ice Cream Man follows an idyllic summer town descending into madness when an ice cream man serves kids sweet delights with horrifying results.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
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The slasher takes place in an idyllic summer town that descends into madness when an ice cream man serves kids from his truck with horrifying results.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Actor James Tolkan, who was Tom Cruise’s no-nonsense commander in Top Gun and Marty McFly’s even less-nonsense Vice Principal in the Back to the Future films, has died.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2026
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The notion of characterizing such a move as anything more than penalizing the public — which is finally balking at more taxation — is nonsense.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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All of this readily registers on Barry’s Dada-absurdity meter.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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What the Meme Revealed About Surgical Technology Beneath the absurdity, the grape videos demonstrated real capabilities.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Japanese pickling methods, such as nukazuke (fermentation in rice bran), emphasized minimalism and balance, reflecting the cultural values of harmony and simplicity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
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The beauty of cafe curtains lies in their simplicity.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Smart, skilled, hardworking people gracefully put up with all manner of tragedy, stupidity, and institutional rot.—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
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Speaking of stupidity, Kathy, pay for the Second Ave.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There’s a heartwarming idiocy to their pursuit, yet what festers underneath is their inability to process grief consciously and the fear that those who deem their existence meaningless might be right.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
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Gunther and Tig are two billionaire failsons who have wasted countless opportunities and cash chasing the stupidest ideas and who get rewarded over and over again for their idiocy.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This season Fears has shown both the maturity of the player who came back to discuss his actions with his head coach, and the foolishness of the hothead who responded with the hard foul.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
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There was no foolishness tolerated from him and, of course, Magic, his lieutenant.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Folly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folly. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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