1
as in insanity
lack of good sense or judgment
the foolishness of going off to search for the fountain of youth
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
couldn't listen to another second of their foolishness, so I told them to be quiet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stupidness
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind
you didn't fail the test because of any innate foolishness but because of a lack of preparation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foolishness
The foolishness of the governor’s gibe was underscored by the progressive, staunchly anti-Trump Democratic mayor of San Jose.
—
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
So, with this progressive effort hitting the trifecta of foolishness, hypocrisy, and dishonesty, how could there possibly be a silver lining?
—Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2025
The country is full of businesspeople with the optimism, the daring, or the foolishness to try disrupting sectors.
—Dan Wang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
None of that store-brand foolishness.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foolishness
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
So, with this progressive effort hitting the trifecta of foolishness, hypocrisy, and dishonesty, how could there possibly be a silver lining?
—Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2025
The country is full of businesspeople with the optimism, the daring, or the foolishness to try disrupting sectors.
—Dan Wang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
None of that store-brand foolishness.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for foolishness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolishness
Noun
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The social media posts tell the story of a city under a cloud of drug insanity.—
Joe Dwinell,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Ellis has a history of schizophrenia, and her defense attorneys entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, WKYC reported.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The other side in a debate with common sense is nonsense.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
22 Oct. 2025
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That kind of no-nonsense mentality cuts right through all the nonsense and puts the focus on the work.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Molski has his own method to the madness.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
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And what were some under-the-radar happenings in between that set the stage for the madness?—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Snack Homiez’ back-and-forth, soothing in its stupidity, reminded me of this Kate McKinnon-Aidy Bryant two-hander from 2021.—
Charu Sinha,
Vulture,
19 Oct. 2025
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In Del Toro’s film, the creature isn’t rejected for his loathsome appearance but for his apparent stupidity.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Poor sleep and stress can take a toll on skin, while exercise can improve blood flow to the skin and may help counteract the loss of elasticity and dermal thickness that comes with aging.—
Maria Godoy,
NPR,
20 Oct. 2025
-
In the United States, it is used in medical devices and measurement gauges, such as industrial devices that measure the thickness of materials.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The visual simplicity of mobile phone exchanges, personal photos and Fatma’s own images of her city and people, creates a sense of closeness and immediacy, drawing us into the daily reality of life under siege.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
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This luggage set from Wrangler is built for travelers who want function, durability and simplicity at a solid price.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Some hijinks and silliness happen.—
Charles Infosino,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
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As Theodore Logan, Keanu Reeves found the perfect vessel for his serene silliness, playing well off Alex Winter’s equally clueless Bill.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Alps is really about the absurdity of acting in general, and perhaps the specific psychological burden of the Method in particular.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
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The costumes point out the absurdity of bringing National Guard troops into cities, Faith Gill said.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foolishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolishness. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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