1
as in insanity
lack of good sense or judgment
the foolishness of going off to search for the fountain of youth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 foolishness
Such utter foolishness, by another blind leading the blind, liberal democrat.
—
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 10 June 2025
Much odder is that red states aren’t taking the blue states up on an arrangement that to some degree erects a fence around economic foolishness.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
From physical fights to is-he-or-isn’t-he paternity test foolishness and now revenge p-rn, the storylines can get out of control.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 7 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for foolishness
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 10 June 2025
Much odder is that red states aren’t taking the blue states up on an arrangement that to some degree erects a fence around economic foolishness.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
From physical fights to is-he-or-isn’t-he paternity test foolishness and now revenge p-rn, the storylines can get out of control.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 7 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for foolishness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolishness
Noun
-
Those members of Bachelor Nation who aren't familiar with the #MomTok insanity will have several months to get up to speed, as Paul's season of The Bachelorette will not premiere until 2026.—
Kristen Baldwin,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
-
She was later extradited from South Korea in 2022, PEOPLE previously reported, and has since pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and is pursuing an insanity defense.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Every four years, we are told that this is the most important election in history, which is a lot of errant nonsense.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
12 Sep. 2025
-
This type of nonsense from [in-laws] is what wears on you over the years.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
To give you an idea of this madness, take a look at the photo at the top.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Continue reading … DAVID MARCUS – Progressive madness killed Charlie Kirk, a once-in-a-generation leader.—
,
FOXNews.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Heck, maybe its sheer stupidity.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Trying to move in earlier to accommodate a pittance of an audience is mind boggling stupidity.—
Pol Ballus,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The patch was created by combining nanophotonics technology, which manipulates light at the nanometer scale (one-hundred-thousandth the thickness of a human hair) to read molecular properties, with microfluidics technology, which precisely controls sweat in channels thinner than a hair.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
This is the official thickness.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Those who enjoy the simplicity and ease of a hair serum will like Hers’s Minoxidil Solution.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The secret’s in the simplicity—and the rave reviews say it all.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
What really makes Dog Man special, though, is how Pilkey’s trademark mix of absurd silliness and surprising sincerity shines through.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
People had never seen that kind of silliness.—
Jason Mastrodonato,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But coming from Alexander Karp, the CEO and cofounder of Palantir Technologies, this concern-trolling about a growing censoriousness in ‘the culture’ feels almost intentional in its absurdity.—
Book Marks
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The result is an absurdity that can elicit instinctual laughter at the grossest imagery imaginable.—
Robert Niles,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Foolishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolishness. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share