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

Chicago and other cities are the counterexamples to the claim that the standards were a fool’s errand. — Michael Casserly, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Pyrite, commonly known as fool’s gold, is an unusual semiconductor. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026

Verb

In Arup’s case, the AI being used to impersonate the CFO only had to fool one employee at the right moment. — Allyson Kapin, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Ultimately, Marissa is a devoted mom who had nothing to do with her son’s disappearance and who was fooled by her own husband. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing fool

• fool (with)
• fool around