fool 1 of 3

Definition of foolnext
1
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

3

fool

2 of 3

adjective

fool

3 of 3

verb

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 fool
Noun
Texans, on the whole, have broadly negative feelings about Democrats, and trying to win over Cornyn supporters may end up being a fool’s errand. Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 20 May 2026 Trying to control such speech or sanitize any possibility of offense, disagreement, or discomfort, will be a fool’s errand in a diverse democracy. Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Verb
Iwamasa fooled their family, Madeline Morrison wrote. Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 27 May 2026 Don't be fooled by the rocks that she's got. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for fool
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fool
Noun
  • Mark Hamill has been a lunatic for years now.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
  • To get a sentence like that in a communist, radically left-wing city of liberal lunatics is truly amazing.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Grotesque sea hags, killer clowns, demonic self-help books and more plague the town and its mayor, Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys).
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
  • His near-daily press conferences are just part of a traveling, partisan clown show.
    Scott Maxwell, Sun Sentinel, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Details such as the relatively few suckers on its arms, its smooth skin, beak features and the coloring around its organs and parts of the mantle indicated a new species, now called Microeledone galapagensis.
    Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 24 May 2026
  • Trimming the suckers, from the first 2 feet above the ground, ensures the plant's energy is focused on the main vines and cucumbers, says Scott.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026
Adjective
  • Backing the Cubs right now seems foolish.
    David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
  • By human standard, of course, animals can be unintentionally and surprisingly clumsy, delightfully awkward or laughingly foolish.
    Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said during a news conference that the company suppressed internal safety warnings and deceived users about the true nature and dangers of the product.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 June 2026
  • Yet while Hiller has been seemingly everywhere on TV lately, appearances in this industry can be deceiving.
    David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Others joked about returning to the Catholic Church after a lifetime of agnosticism and atheism.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
  • At SoxFest in January, Martin joked about having the longest tenure of any Sox player.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Noun
  • Colman Domingo wore a colorful custom Valentino look based on the house's harlequin motif.
    Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026
  • Common Pests and Diseases Broccoli plants can be damaged by common insect pests, like caterpillars, aphids, flea beetles, and harlequin bugs, says Minter.
    Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The apartment has original hardwood floors, which set the stage for thoughtful modern and vintage furniture; a fiddle leaf fig tree as well as other touches of real plant life on the interior and exterior add to the garden district location to make this stay a plant lover’s haven.
    Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 30 May 2026
  • Outdoor exercise lovers will want to snap up this $14 skort to stay cool while playing pickleball or going for a walk.
    Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026

Cite this Entry

“Fool.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fool. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on fool

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster