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
• unwise
• ridiculous
• loony
• witless
• daft
• cuckoo
• simpleminded
• weak-minded
• unreasonable
• weak
• fatuous
• nonsensical
• dippy
• brainless
• zany
• out to lunch
• nutty
• wacko
• inept
• wacky
• asinine
• daffy
• crackpot
• preposterous
• senseless
• slow
• kooky
• unreasoning
• crackbrained
• screwball
• gaga
• harebrained
• loony tunes
• sappy
• jerky
• dotty
• tomfool
• imbecile
• batty
• barmy
• moronic
• balmy
• half-witted
• cockeyed
• clueless
• half-baked
• bubbleheaded
• thoughtless
• lunkheaded
• meshuga
• unintelligent
• feebleminded
• doltish
• featherheaded
• unreasoned
• dull
• thickheaded
• brain-dead
• dopey
• fruity
• pinheaded
• empty-headed
• obtuse
• mindless
• illogical
• vacuous
• dim
• oafish
• lamebrain
• dunderheaded
• dense
• softheaded
• fallacious
• ludicrous
• opaque
• dorky
• invalid
• laughable
• gormless
• dim-witted
• farcical
• clownish
• soft
• 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

Don’t let the building’s modern facade fool you, the rooms are minimalist yet warm with wood flooring, floral wallpaper, and hand-knotted rugs. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

In these labors, Carson is akin to two other recent laureates, Jon Fosse and László Krasznahorkai, our foremost writers of holy fools. — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026

Verb

Despite all the criticism that has pummeled the club since it was found guilty of over 100 charges relating to financial breaches, you could be fooled into thinking nothing was wrong. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Saturday should feature plenty of sunshine, but don't let that fool you. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing fool

• fool (with)
• fool around