Synonyms of fool

fool 1 of 3

noun

ˈfül 

1

as in lunatic

a person who lacks good sense or judgment

only a fool would attempt to climb that mountain unprepared

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lunatic
• idiot
• moron
• goose
• maniac
• nut
• simpleton
• jackass
• loser
• ninny
• cuckoo
• simp
• doofus
• nutcase
• booby
• monkey
• nitwit
• dingbat
• turkey
• nincompoop
• charlie
• dipstick
• berk
• half-wit
• ninnyhammer
• mooncalf
• git
• dummy
• featherhead
• ding-dong
• nit
• dolt
• daredevil
• madman
• imbecile
• donkey
• ding-a-ling
• dunce
• ignoramus
• blockhead
• know-nothing
• yo-yo
• knucklehead
• dupe
• goon
• numskull
• dope
• pinhead
• chump
• airhead
• dork
• schnook
• fathead
• schlub
• scatterbrain
• mockery
• laughingstock
• character
• gander
• dodo
• weirdo
• kook
• butt
• birdbrain
• schlump
• featherbrain
• codger
• crank
• dumbbell
• schlemiel
• stock
• crackpot
• screwball
• oddball
• crackbrain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brain
• genius
• sage
• thinker

2

as in clown

a person formerly kept in a royal or noble household to amuse with jests and pranks

a king's fool could get away with saying things that others in the palace couldn't

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clown
• harlequin
• jester
• joker
• comedian
• buffoon
• motley
• jokester
• wag
• comic
• droll
• madcap
• comedienne
• vice
• zany
• mime
• cutup
• merry-andrew
• mummer

3

as in sucker

a person with a strong and habitual liking for something

I'm a fool for ice cream

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sucker
• lover
• fan
• enthusiast
• maniac
• freak
• fanatic
• addict
• fiend
• admirer
• buff
• hound
• junkie
• nut
• devotee
• fancier
• bug
• aficionado
• collector
• authority
• supporter
• friend
• proponent
• expert
• head
• maven
• groupie
• amateur
• habitué
• connoisseur
• dilettante
• disciple
• advocate
• exponent
• promoter
• champion
• follower
• convert
• apostle
• zealot
• votary
• evangelist
• partisan
• adherent
• patron
• booster
• hanger-on
• cultist
• faddist
• backer
• well-wisher
• rooter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• critic
• detractor
• nonfan
• belittler
• carper
• nonadmirer

fool

2 of 3

adjective

as in foolish

showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment

he's always got some fool plan or other

Synonyms & Similar Words

• foolish
• stupid
• silly
• mad
• insane
• absurd
• crazy
• idiotic
• dumb
• lunatic
• irrational
• simple
• ridiculous
• unwise
• unreasonable
• loony
• weak
• witless
• cuckoo
• daft
• simpleminded
• weak-minded
• fatuous
• nonsensical
• dippy
• brainless
• zany
• out to lunch
• nutty
• wacko
• inept
• wacky
• asinine
• slow
• unreasoning
• daffy
• crackpot
• preposterous
• senseless
• kooky
• gaga
• crackbrained
• screwball
• harebrained
• loony tunes
• sappy
• jerky
• dotty
• tomfool
• imbecile
• batty
• barmy
• moronic
• balmy
• half-witted
• cockeyed
• clueless
• half-baked
• bubbleheaded
• thoughtless
• lunkheaded
• meshuga
• unreasoned
• unintelligent
• feebleminded
• dull
• doltish
• featherheaded
• thickheaded
• brain-dead
• dopey
• fruity
• pinheaded
• empty-headed
• obtuse
• mindless
• illogical
• dim
• vacuous
• oafish
• lamebrain
• dense
• dunderheaded
• softheaded
• fallacious
• opaque
• invalid
• ludicrous
• dorky
• laughable
• gormless
• dim-witted
• farcical
• soft
• clownish
• thick
• surd
• nonrational
• slow-witted
• chuckleheaded
• airheaded
• unsound
• knuckleheaded
• buffoonish
• notional
• boobish
• birdbrained
• chowderheaded
• ill-advised
• unconsidered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wise
• sound
• prudent
• sensible
• sane
• intelligent
• clever
• smart
• judicious
• reasonable
• bright
• sagacious
• rational
• valid
• sage
• logical
• sapient
• brainy
• well-advised

fool

3 of 3

verb

1

as in to deceive

to cause to believe what is untrue

I fooled him into thinking that we were driving to the store, not to his surprise birthday party

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deceive
• trick
• mislead
• delude
• tease
• kid
• dupe
• sucker
• misguide
• hoodwink
• bluff
• misinform
• bamboozle
• beguile
• humbug
• hoax
• cheat
• gull
• suck in
• con
• cozen
• spoof
• sting
• hornswoggle
• catch
• snow
• juggle
• gaff
• fake out
• buffalo
• snooker
• burn
• string along
• take in
• have on
• have
• gammon
• do a number on
• pull one's leg
• lead one down the garden path
• defraud
• stick
• put on
• swindle
• shortchange
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• flimflam
• hustle
• diddle
• bleed
• rook
• fleece
• mulct
• euchre
• squeeze
• skin
• chisel

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undeceive
• reveal
• expose
• tell
• show up
• unmask
• uncover
• debunk
• disclose
• divulge
• unveil
• disabuse
• disillusion
• uncloak
• disenchant

2

as in to joke

to make jokes

an edgy comedian fooling with an appreciative college audience

Synonyms & Similar Words

• joke
• fun
• jest
• kid
• quip
• jolly
• banter
• jive
• tease
• wisecrack
• amuse
• crack wise
• jape
• ridicule
• chaff
• gag
• rag
• josh
• jeer
• mock
• entertain
• yuk
• parody
• gibe
• caricature
• razz
• satirize
• haze
• rib
• rally
• lampoon
• divert

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fool

Noun

One reason this war may linger is because most of the leaders of these countries and militias know that history has its eyes on them, and there will be a moral, political and economic accounting that will be devastating for each one of these fools. — Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 16 June 2026

That's not to say anything about the company itself; only a fool would bet against Musk given his track record at Tesla . — Zev Fima, CNBC, 16 June 2026

Verb

Don’t let his goofy nature fool you, though; Morman’s standing within the changing media landscape is a reflection of hard work. — Nathan Lately, Time, 14 July 2026

His trademark smirk and knowing stare are now feared by any opponent up against Norway, but don’t be fooled into thinking Haaland isn’t serious about his career. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Phrases Containing fool

• fool (with)
• fool around