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

Some want to live vicariously through them, while others joke about the poor fools who fell for their tactics. — Owen Carry, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Once upon a time, Herzog was the crazy visionary, determined at all costs to realize his aesthetic ambitions to feel more, to see deeper, to explore the madness of the world, a bit of a holy fool himself. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026

Verb

Most Americans don’t trust that any of it will actually work, and reporting shows kids find ways around the checks that do exist, including drawing on facial hair to fool age-estimation software. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

Americans have generally managed to keep their credit scores intact despite grappling with high prices and economic worries, but don't let that fool you into thinking consumers are all okay. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing fool

• fool (with)
• fool around