Synonyms of unwise

unwise

adjective

ˌən-ˈwīz 

1

as in foolish

showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment

made the unwise decision to invest in a brand-new company

Synonyms & Similar Words

• foolish
• stupid
• silly
• absurd
• insane
• mad
• crazy
• idiotic
• irrational
• unreasonable
• fool
• dumb
• ridiculous
• lunatic
• simple
• asinine
• nonsensical
• weak
• fatuous
• daft
• preposterous
• inept
• slow
• zany
• loony
• wacky
• unreasoning
• senseless
• witless
• weak-minded
• simpleminded
• out to lunch
• kooky
• nutty
• harebrained
• dippy
• cuckoo
• daffy
• brainless
• jerky
• sappy
• crackbrained
• wacko
• dotty
• barmy
• screwball
• loony tunes
• gaga
• thoughtless
• crackpot
• balmy
• batty
• unreasoned
• illogical
• moronic
• half-baked
• cockeyed
• tomfool
• featherheaded
• lunkheaded
• dull
• unintelligent
• half-witted
• clueless
• bubbleheaded
• ludicrous
• meshuga
• invalid
• imbecile
• obtuse
• dense
• feebleminded
• unsound
• thickheaded
• fallacious
• doltish
• opaque
• vacuous
• fruity
• dim
• laughable
• mindless
• dunderheaded
• dopey
• oafish
• brain-dead
• farcical
• ill-advised
• empty-headed
• lamebrain
• pinheaded
• dorky
• nonrational
• softheaded
• thick
• soft
• surd
• dim-witted
• gormless
• clownish
• knuckleheaded
• unconsidered
• airheaded
• slow-witted
• chuckleheaded
• buffoonish
• notional
• boobish
• birdbrained
• chowderheaded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wise
• prudent
• sensible
• sound
• judicious
• sane
• reasonable
• intelligent
• clever
• smart
• bright
• sagacious
• valid
• logical
• rational
• sage
• sapient
• brainy
• well-advised

2

as in inappropriate

showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations

an unwise urge to confide in total strangers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inappropriate
• imprudent
• improper
• inadvisable
• stupid
• injudicious
• careless
• indiscreet
• tactless
• indelicate
• ill-advised
• undiplomatic
• dumb
• foolish
• idiotic
• silly
• brash
• thoughtless
• graceless
• moronic
• unseemly
• inconsiderate
• heedless
• unbecoming
• mindless
• indecorous
• uncivil
• nonsensical
• preposterous
• ill-mannered
• harebrained
• senseless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wise
• prudent
• advisable
• judicious
• appropriate
• logical
• discreet
• sensible
• rational
• sound
• intelligent
• smart
• proper
• tactful
• civil
• becoming
• sane
• seemly
• decorous
• sage
• sapient

3

as in stupid

not having or showing a deep understanding of something

a stunningly unwise observer of the political scene

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stupid
• silly
• foolish
• dumb
• imperceptive
• unperceptive
• idiotic
• simple
• slow
• dense
• impercipient
• undiscriminating
• insentient
• thoughtless
• dull
• obtuse
• sluggish
• moronic
• unintelligent
• imbecile
• feebleminded
• thickheaded
• witless
• brainless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sagacious
• insightful
• perceptive
• acute
• discerning
• quick
• brilliant
• discriminating
• sage
• intelligent
• smart
• clever
• keen
• bright
• nimble
• shrewd
• learned
• percipient
• cerebral
• sapient
• scholarly
• astute
• perspicacious
• sharp
• erudite
• literate
• thoughtful
• reflective
• brainy
• quick-witted
• contemplative

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unwise

Here, however, the joke is that appearances can be deceiving — or to be more specific, that trying to act like a character in a movie is a reckless, unwise thing to do. — Elena Lazic, Variety, 26 June 2026

And given this context, Anthropic’s actions are viewed by many within Washington as not simply unwise, but actively antagonistic. — Tina Nguyen, The Verge, 17 June 2026

For their part, do politicians and agency leaders like it when their pet projects are assessed by intelligence as unwise or infeasible? — Gregory F. Treverton, The Conversation, 8 June 2026

The economic reality is that, despite Putin’s tough guy bluster and despite higher oil and gas prices as well as the unwise relaxation of energy sanctions on Russia, Putin’s house of cards is still more vulnerable than many realize. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 23 May 2026