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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foolishness
The Adams case is not the only one that will bring the foolishness of this directive into sharp relief.
—
Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 15 Feb. 2025
Making any judgements about the actual validity of their complaints is the height of foolishness right now, with so much legal process runway still ahead.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025
Fonseca got tough and the line between bravery and foolishness, at times, became imperceptible.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
The problem is not the companies but the system, whose foolishness is very clear to those, like me, who have spent decades abroad.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for foolishness
Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 15 Feb. 2025
Making any judgements about the actual validity of their complaints is the height of foolishness right now, with so much legal process runway still ahead.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025
Fonseca got tough and the line between bravery and foolishness, at times, became imperceptible.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
The problem is not the companies but the system, whose foolishness is very clear to those, like me, who have spent decades abroad.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for foolishness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolishness
Noun
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Walter refused to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
15 June 2025
-
Third, and this is key: Do not give in to insanity.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
9 June 2025
Noun
-
But water as the power source for a vehicle is nonsense.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
-
But the idea of an algorithm, which is as prone to generate nonsense as anything lucid, representing a deceased person’s thoughts or behaviors seems terrifying.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 June 2025
Noun
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The there is the early childhood of the people she’s been visiting, most of whom are now in their late 80s or 90s — the innocent pre-World War II days before the round-ups, the concentration camps, the madness, the murder.—
Christine DiMattei,
Sun Sentinel,
18 June 2025
-
Irresistible madness: Boca Juniors and Benfica see red, Chelsea ease past LAFC Now then.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
The following program will contain graphic stupidity, as four friends compete to embarrass one another – only this time in Lithuania.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
-
To critics, the obvious answer would be ego, stubbornness or just plain stupidity.—
Robert Pearl,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Noun
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Depending on the thickness of the steel chosen, the edging can last from 20 to 25 years.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
15 June 2025
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When the device was used to assess gum thickness and height on pig jaws – which have a tooth structure similar to that of humans – its measurements correlated by 95% with those made by a traditional periodontal probe.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
14 June 2025
Noun
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Each brand employs a strikingly similar aesthetic vocabulary: muted color palettes dominated by whites, blacks, and earth tones; sans-serif typography that suggests clinical precision; and packaging that prioritizes geometric simplicity over ornamental flourish.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
24 June 2025
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Young consumers receptive to silk lingerie and sleepwear still demand machine-wash convenience and price sensitivity, while design styles must balance traditional aesthetics with modern tastes—blending simplicity, comfort and a sense of technology.—
SJ Studio,
Sourcing Journal,
24 June 2025
Noun
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Mika Rottenberg’s work explores the pure absurdities of our current world.—
Nargess Banks,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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These over-the-top moments and the absurdity of its title may be the elements that made Zombi 2 famous, but beneath them is a movie with an eerie, uncanny vibe that's shockingly easy to get lost in.—
James Grebey,
Time,
20 June 2025
Noun
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Use it to find and retrieve stray nuts or bolts in any crevice.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2025
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Without that pollination, almond trees produce only 200 pounds of nuts per acre.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foolishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolishness. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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