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
-
Kittle’s defense attorney revealed his client is a paranoid schizophrenic and was previously found not guilty on prior charges by reason of insanity.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
For all his insanity, his base is energized, and behind him.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
While countless users dismissed the theories as nonsense, the dog pile had begun causing the hot takes to go viral.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Bon Jovi’s team dismissed word of the tour as nonsense.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But rather than capturing the madness of the era, Lee drowns in sub-Scorsese excess, confusing saying a lot of things bluntly with saying something meaningful.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
16 Aug. 2025
-
There appears to be a method to the madness in Minnesota.—
Trevor Squire,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Economists ascribe an inflationary quality to borrowing which implies impressive market stupidity.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
10 Aug. 2025
-
Amid all the looming consciousness that our time on earth is precious, there are also specials unerringly devoted to utter stupidity, and even the comedians fixated on mortality are delivering life-affirming material, too.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Allow your spackle layer to dry completely (which could take several hours depending on thickness and humidity).—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Aug. 2025
-
These scalp drops are designed with density in mind and can improve thickness and volume for less shedding and thicker hairstyles.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
New providers decoupled payments from banks, focusing on speed, simplicity and APIs.—
Mustafa Khanwala,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Despite its make-do simplicity, bulldog gravy is delicious when made with flavorful fat, such as from smoky bacon.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
To illustrate the absurdity of adhering too closely to genre conventions, Galloway describes a plot about an innocent girl who winds up in a strange town.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Drama, laughs, and a healthy dose of absurdity ensue.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
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 25 Aug. 2025.
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