fools 1 of 2

Definition of foolsnext
plural of fool
1
2
as in clowns
a person formerly kept in a royal or noble household to amuse with jests and pranks a king's fool could get away with saying things that others in the palace couldn't

Synonyms & Similar Words

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fools

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of fool

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 fools
Noun
As Rose’s impoverished yet imperious mother Ruth, Parson’s dry deliveries offer great comic ballast to this ship of fools. Frank Rizzo, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026 McGinn sets high standards in training and during games and does not suffer fools. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026 Antisemitism is the socialism of fools, right? Suzanne Schneider, The New York Review of Books, 25 Mar. 2026 Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim were among the first fools brave enough to go live-action on Adult Swim, setting the template for shows like Check It Out! Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026 Only fools would think differently. ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026 Sadly, OpenAI plays us for fools. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026 Both James Cameron and Apple Studios have made fools of those who have discounted them, but the blockbuster director has just done so more often. Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 14 Jan. 2026 So our founder goes to the next best thing – friends, families and fools. Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
What fools these non-OpenAI mortals must be. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fools
Noun
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio wasn’t far behind, saying the war is being waged against religious lunatics.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The danger is in doing nothing as theocratic lunatics continue to weaponize with atomic bombs and modern missile delivery systems.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Once completed, the $5 million acquisition will ensure the theater has a permanent home, a place where skateboarding clowns and leek-haired onions can continue to frolic and dance for decades to come.
    Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Plot details are being kept under wraps, though the film has been described as a four-quadrant coming-of-age comedy set in the world of funny and evil clowns.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But to think that suckers get an even break when insiders have information that assures them of winning is folly.
    William Mersey, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Invasive vines like Virginia creeper, English ivy, and buckthorn can strangle trees, for example, and some aggressive trees may spread via underground suckers and roots.
    Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Because Sidney Prescott, now Evans, exists only in relationship to Ghostface, the costume worn by many different knife-wielding maniacs over the years, starting with her high school boyfriend.
    Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Because Sidney Prescott, now Evans, exists only in relationship to Ghostface, the costume worn by many different knife-wielding maniacs over the years, starting with her high school boyfriend.
    Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • San Diego startup Neomorph on Monday announced a new $100 million investment for its molecular glue that tricks cancer cells into self-destructing.
    Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
  • During the final moments of the finale, Jimmy is seen sitting down for breakfast with Sofi after Paul (Harrison Ford) tricks him into meeting one last time.
    Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The comedian jokes to laughter and applause before asking if anyone in the room is a lawyer.
    Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Bridges jokes that her staff are more nervous about a drop-by visit from her than from state inspectors.
    Katie Langford, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Plain oats are nutritious on their own, but adding seeds, nuts, and fruit can provide a wider range of vitamins and minerals while increasing fiber and protein.
    Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Chopped nuts would add nice crunch.
    Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That’s probably why class-crossed lovers make such fertile ground for fiction—look at Heathcliff and Cathy, or poor Scudder and Maurice.
    Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Admittedly, this is not the first time Martin has seen two generations of Rent lovers living under one roof.
    Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fools.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fools. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

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