Synonyms of foolish

foolish

adjective

ˈfü-lish 

1

as in stupid

showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment

foolish people who thought that the world would end in the year 2000

a foolish scheme that was supposed to make us all rich

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stupid
• silly
• absurd
• insane
• mad
• crazy
• idiotic
• fool
• irrational
• dumb
• unwise
• unreasonable
• lunatic
• ridiculous
• fatuous
• simple
• daft
• nonsensical
• weak
• asinine
• preposterous
• simpleminded
• loony
• witless
• senseless
• inept
• weak-minded
• unreasoning
• zany
• harebrained
• wacky
• brainless
• dippy
• cuckoo
• nutty
• daffy
• kooky
• wacko
• slow
• out to lunch
• crackpot
• sappy
• screwball
• jerky
• dotty
• barmy
• gaga
• crackbrained
• cockeyed
• loony tunes
• moronic
• thoughtless
• batty
• half-witted
• half-baked
• balmy
• tomfool
• unreasoned
• bubbleheaded
• lunkheaded
• clueless
• unintelligent
• illogical
• imbecile
• meshuga
• doltish
• dull
• featherheaded
• obtuse
• dopey
• vacuous
• thickheaded
• fallacious
• dunderheaded
• empty-headed
• feebleminded
• ludicrous
• mindless
• fruity
• pinheaded
• brain-dead
• dim
• dense
• oafish
• laughable
• softheaded
• invalid
• opaque
• lamebrain
• dorky
• unsound
• farcical
• dim-witted
• gormless
• nonrational
• clownish
• soft
• surd
• knuckleheaded
• thick
• airheaded
• chuckleheaded
• slow-witted
• ill-advised
• buffoonish
• unconsidered
• notional
• boobish
• birdbrained
• chowderheaded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wise
• prudent
• sound
• sensible
• sane
• judicious
• intelligent
• reasonable
• smart
• clever
• bright
• sagacious
• logical
• rational
• valid
• sage
• sapient
• brainy
• well-advised

2

as in absurd

conceived or made without regard for reason or reality

foolish attempts to construct a perpetual motion machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• absurd
• bizarre
• insane
• unreal
• crazy
• strange
• fanciful
• ridiculous
• wild
• nonsensical
• fantastic
• preposterous
• curious
• incredible
• grotesque
• funny
• weird
• peculiar
• inconceivable
• odd
• off the wall
• implausible
• unthinkable
• unbelievable
• extravagant
• eccentric
• unimaginable
• ludicrous
• outlandish
• laughable
• queer
• wacky
• quaint
• farcical
• quirky
• kinky
• surreal
• out-of-the-way
• screwy
• nightmarish
• outré
• kooky
• way-out
• Alice-in-Wonderland
• dreamlike
• far-out
• queerish
• bizarro
• Kafkaesque

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reasonable
• realistic

3

as in small

lacking importance

the current regulations are cluttered with foolish details that are unnecessarily burdensome

Synonyms & Similar Words

• small
• minor
• little
• worthless
• slight
• trivial
• unimportant
• frivolous
• insignificant
• trifling
• petty
• inconsequential
• nugatory
• inconsiderable
• negligible
• incidental
• small-fry
• Mickey Mouse
• minute
• neither here nor there
• fiddling
• one-horse
• small-time
• obscure
• anonymous
• unknown
• jerkwater
• nickel-and-dime
• paltry
• nameless
• uncelebrated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• important
• significant
• major
• meaningful
• big
• substantial
• fatal
• momentous
• decisive
• consequential
• eventful
• weighty
• dominant
• chief
• fateful
• material
• valuable
• impressive
• remarkable
• worthy
• principal
• worthwhile
• outstanding
• overbearing
• prominent
• overriding
• great
• exceptional
• distinctive
• unfrivolous
• eminent
• distinguished
• illustrious
• famous
• overmastering
• basic
• fundamental
• essential
• notorious
• prestigious
• key
• renowned
• all-important
• preeminent

Synonym Chooser

How is the word foolish different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of foolish are asinine, fatuous, silly, and simple. While all these words mean "actually or apparently deficient in intelligence," foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense.

foolish stunts

Where would asinine be a reasonable alternative to foolish?

The words asinine and foolish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception.

an asinine plot

When could fatuous be used to replace foolish?

The words fatuous and foolish can be used in similar contexts, but fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality.

fatuous conspiracy theories

When is it sensible to use silly instead of foolish?

Although the words silly and foolish have much in common, silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior.

the silly antics of revelers

When is simple a more appropriate choice than foolish?

The meanings of simple and foolish largely overlap; however, simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort.

considered people simple who had trouble with computers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of foolish

While the era’s bust eventually brought most of those ventures to an end, Brown said the experience taught him not to let the fear of failure—or looking foolish—get in the way. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

Cousins made two foolish mistakes, on the interceptions by Trader and Taaffe. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026

That game is too important, and holding someone back for a hypothetical Game 3 might be foolish regardless. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

But Americans would be foolish to think that Washington is anywhere near solving this problem. — Doug Beck, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026