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

Leading police experts say firing weapons at moving vehicles is unwise and generally against policy in law enforcement agencies nationwide. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

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