1
as in reckless
foolishly adventurous or bold
hikers who were foolhardy enough to remain on the summit during a thunderstorm
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2
as in daring
having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions
it's foolhardy to go hiking during late fall without warm clothes
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Recent Examples of foolhardy
Moynihan stars in Fixed as Lucky, an anxious beagle that's not quite as foolhardy as his pals.
—
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025
But the move would be foolhardy for a largely untested navy.
—Kerry Brown, Time, 29 July 2025
This seems foolhardy and seems misguided, mainly because there is a perception among a handful of people that this is somehow a blue or a left wing thing when this is the place that for 32 years gave William F. Buckley a show.
—CBS News, 6 July 2025
An empathy gap is obvious in online commenters who suggest, for example, that flood victims earned their fate through the foolhardy choice to live near water, that earthquake victims shouldn’t have lived near fault lines, and so on.
—Hazlitt, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for foolhardy
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025
But the move would be foolhardy for a largely untested navy.
—Kerry Brown, Time, 29 July 2025
This seems foolhardy and seems misguided, mainly because there is a perception among a handful of people that this is somehow a blue or a left wing thing when this is the place that for 32 years gave William F. Buckley a show.
—CBS News, 6 July 2025
An empathy gap is obvious in online commenters who suggest, for example, that flood victims earned their fate through the foolhardy choice to live near water, that earthquake victims shouldn’t have lived near fault lines, and so on.
—Hazlitt, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for foolhardy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolhardy
Adjective
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His reckless decision to escalate the aggression and number of immigration agents is a causal factor, regardless of the outcome of an investigation into this tragic death.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Cowards habitually flee what is painful, while someone who acts bravely because of excessive confidence is simply reckless.—
Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Vitale’s debut collection was one of the most anticipated of last season, and was lauded by critics as daring, original and delightfully wacky.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
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Directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, the two-part documentary explores the fascinating, hilarious, and often heartbreaking life story of one of Hollywood’s most daring satirists, tracing how laughter became Brooks’ lifelong survival tool.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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From her perspective, seeking support is not a lack of discipline, but a rational and courageous response to a complex condition that thrives in silence.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
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When somebody like Will Smith is courageous enough to be vulnerable and to immerse himself in, for my episode, Antarctica, the audience is able to see themselves through Will.—
Abigail Wise,
Outside,
3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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And that was a brave thing to do.—
Dan Morrison,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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In the Zootopia sequel directed by Jared Bush and Bryon Howard, brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), team up again to crack the most perilous and intricate case of their careers.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The daredevil sequence sees Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) hijack a biplane to chase down the villainous Gabriel (Esai Morales), who's in a biplane of his own.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Dec. 2025
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With the region offering four seasons of thrills— from hut-to-hut hikes and epic powder days to daredevil road trips—there’s really no bad time to visit.—
Lydia Price,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Overall, this is a less-adventurous release than past chapters of Little Book, but there are a range of classic bourbon notes like vanilla, maple, honey, pear, baked apple, and that signature Jim Beam peanut note.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
7 Nov. 2025
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Spend a day at Baía do Sancho, often ranked the world’s best beach for its turquoise water, abundant marine life, and adventurous cliffside access.—
Carla Vianna,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foolhardy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolhardy. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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