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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in sucker
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something
I'm a fool for ice cream
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in psychopath
a person having or showing a severely disordered or abnormal state of mind
he got out of serving in the army by successfully pretending to be a fool
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to joke
to make jokes
an edgy comedian fooling with an appreciative college audience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of fool
Eric Kohn, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
All the health benefits of sardines Don't let the size of this fish fool you—though a sardine (typically) weighs around 4 ounces, the benefits are big.
—Lorena Meouchi, Vogue, 27 May 2025
Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 24 May 2025
Prosecco may be Italy’s most joyful export—bubbly, bright, and effortlessly charming—but don’t let its easygoing nature fool you.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fool
Noun
These decisions suggest an effort to suppress all but the most overt nationalistic efforts from American artists, a fool’s errand given the outspoken nature of the creative community, and one that is not unfamiliar around the globe.
—Eric Kohn, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
All the health benefits of sardines Don't let the size of this fish fool you—though a sardine (typically) weighs around 4 ounces, the benefits are big.
—Lorena Meouchi, Vogue, 27 May 2025
Verb
Jordan Beck and Aaron Schunk both singled off the Cy Young contender, but both were sent back to the dugout after Fried fooled them.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 24 May 2025
Prosecco may be Italy’s most joyful export—bubbly, bright, and effortlessly charming—but don’t let its easygoing nature fool you.
—Emily Price, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fool
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fool
Noun
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Fans can also look forward to performances by the iconic Silver Spurs Quadrille, the adorable antics of kids competing in Mutton Bustin’, and plenty of laughs courtesy of the ever-entertaining rodeo clowns.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 May 2025
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His wife, Susan, a sweet woman with short grey hair, worked as a dental hygienist and performed as a clown named Jubilee at hospitals, nursing homes, parties — even the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
19 May 2025
Noun
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What the Nuggets need to do is find a sucker who is willing to talk themselves into the remaining $79 million over two years owed to Porter, while sending back a couple of quality role players.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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Peppers that produce large fruit should only be lightly pruned to remove unproductive suckers, but smaller-fruited pepper plants can be pruned a little more aggressively to boost airflow and branching.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
To write off the Israeli leader would be foolish, especially with new elections not required until late 2026.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
-
His writing is so human—his people are foolish in such human ways.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Even children who are online only in small doses likely see false or inaccurate information that might deceive them.—
Evan Orticio,
Scientific American,
2 June 2025
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In November, Dove pleaded guilty in Gaston County to a dozen felony charges related to illegally accessing police computer systems and helping someone deceive a polygraph test, The Gaston Gazette reported.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump’s administration has sent hundreds of Venezuelan deportees to languish in Salvadoran prisons this year, joking with Mr. Bukele in the oval office in April about imprisoning U.S. citizens in El Salvador as well.—
Nelson Mauricio Rauda Zablah,
Christian Science Monitor,
6 June 2025
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Hudson previously joked about the fact that each of her kids has a different father during an appearance on Sunday Today with Willie Geist.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Learn more about management options and which food plants are most susceptible to this insect in our harlequin bug on vegetables web page.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Apr. 2025
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Once infused with the diabolical spirit, the guide is transformed into a buffoon, complete with a harlequin outfit—a mad joker and a dancing fool who does a little jig to the sound of a jazz trio.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The online marketplace is full of fellow antique lovers selling finds that date all the way back to the 1940s.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
7 June 2025
-
Hard and Semi-Soft Cheeses Good news for cheese lovers everywhere!—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
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Stories for the waiting room According to Kevin Dutton, a British psychologist and author, and assorted studies, the 10 careers with the highest proportion of psychopaths are CEO, lawyer, TV news personalities, salespeople, surgeons, journalists, police officers, clergy, chefs and civil servants.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2025
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Burrough reveals the hero of Bob Dylan’s 1967 ballad to be a psychopath.—
Paul Begala,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fool.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fool. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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