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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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolhardy
Adjective
  • The defense also contends that Trump, as a public figure, must show actual malice—proof that the Journal knew its reporting was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth—and that the complaint fails to do so.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Western leaders largely dismissed these overt signals, assuming Putin would not be reckless enough to risk crippling sanctions, economic isolation, and a costly war.
    Big Think, Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Naomi Watts also went sheer in a daring look from Valentino’s spring 2025 couture collection, which featured a voluminous skirt with a lacy top.
    Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The thieves who brazenly robbed the Louvre Museum in Paris and stole priceless jewelry in one of the most daring museum heists in recent memory may have been hired by a private collector, officials said.
    Bonny Chu , Ronn Blitzer, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In her latest book, Strong Ground, Brown makes a compelling case that we’re not wired for this level of uncertainty, and risk losing focus on the core values of courageous and sustainable leadership.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
  • This was a fearless and courageous person.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Stay strong, be brave and if the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy and punch a higher floor!
    Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Willing-to-put-your-heart-on-the-line brave?
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Nixon has built a reputation on social media for being a daredevil pilot with clips on his Instagram often showing him performing stunts in helicopters, including low-level sprints, sharp turns and risky maneuvers while in the air.
    Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The first season followed 17-year-old Ethan (Cantona James) seeking a way out of the Southside’s bloody cycle of gang violence through spinning, a South African extreme motorsport that features drivers performing daredevil stunts.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But when adventurous Milo comes into town, Prudence finds an unlikely friend with benefits.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The Penguins probably could’ve gone more adventurous.
    The Athletic NHL Staff, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Foolhardy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolhardy. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

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