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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective foolhardy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of foolhardy are adventurous, daredevil, daring, rash, reckless, and venturesome. While all these words mean "exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense," foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

Where would adventurous be a reasonable alternative to foolhardy?

The meanings of adventurous and foolhardy largely overlap; however, adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

When is daredevil a more appropriate choice than foolhardy?

The words daredevil and foolhardy can be used in similar contexts, but daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

When would daring be a good substitute for foolhardy?

The words daring and foolhardy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

When might rash be a better fit than foolhardy?

In some situations, the words rash and foolhardy are roughly equivalent. However, rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

When can reckless be used instead of foolhardy?

While in some cases nearly identical to foolhardy, reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

When is it sensible to use venturesome instead of foolhardy?

While the synonyms venturesome and foolhardy are close in meaning, venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of foolhardy But while Martinez no longer is CPS CEO, that’s a foolhardy assumption so long as that pension fund solely is the city’s legal responsibility. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 July 2025 Hammack should have replied to Smith that a central banker planning something as complicated as the cost of credit would be as foolhardy as a president planning Harvard’s class of 2029, multiplied by many millions. John Tamny, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025 The actress recently defended the NBC mockumentary sitcom’s later seasons following the departure of Carell’s foolhardy Dunder Mifflin branch manager character Michael Scott after Season 7 in 2011. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 May 2025 But continuity has always seemed an optional buy-in with M:I. A taste for elaborate, foolhardy, daredevil stunts is the only real prerequisite. A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for foolhardy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolhardy
Adjective
  • With real pressure from Washington, Addis Ababa and the Tigrayan administration should be able to marginalize the reckless factions that are seeking to exploit the situation—and finally bring to heel the Middle Eastern powers that have for too long enjoyed free rein to meddle in the Horn of Africa.
    Mulugeta Gebrehiwot Berhe, Foreign Affairs, 5 Aug. 2025
  • The main emphasis behind reintroducing car crushing, Easter said, is to deter future reckless drivers or, at least, make sure a particular car stays off the road.
    Caleb Lunetta, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • André’s landing at an airfield near Paris after a daring transatlantic flight has a documentary quality, combining the drama with a newsreel-like display of the making of the live radio broadcast about his heroic feat.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 July 2025
  • The change from black-and-white to red all over highlighted the team’s understanding of what consumers were feeling at the time: the need to be more daring, more unexpected, and more carefree.
    Kelly Dawson, Architectural Digest, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • Selby has lived a big, courageous life, and that largesse is evident on every page, in the form of the rigor and curiosity of the narrative voice.
    Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Now more than ever, Uncle Sam will be looking for courageous insiders to step forward to ensure that the promise to treat disease doesn’t become an opportunity to fleece taxpayers instead.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Today this material can seal pipes and brave the ocean.
    Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Lucio — leggy, brave, sturdy in the challenge — is probably more appropriate as a reference point.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Whether visitors are seeking ethical wildlife tours, daredevil adventures like swimming at the edge of Victoria Falls, or aiming to support conservation efforts, Africa offers a depth of experiences that go far beyond the traditional safari game drives.
    Emese Maczko, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Club Med Cancun has a new sports and wellness island with a dedicated palapa for quiet yoga classes, archery, bocce ball, mini golf, multi-sport courts and the iconic Club Med Circus School where guests can participate in their own trapeze lessons and other daredevil acrobatics.
    Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
Adjective
  • Expedition crews are often leading Zodiac cruises or landing for hiking excursions in places none of them have ever been before, giving an exceptionally adventurous feel to outings.
    Cassidy Randall, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
  • But more adventurous viewers will find this an occult drama unusually rich in distinctive aesthetic and offbeat tonal rewards.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Foolhardy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolhardy. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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