foolishness

noun

fool·​ish·​ness ˈfü-lish-nəs 

1

: foolish behavior

2

: a foolish act or idea

Synonyms

• absurdity
• asininity
• balminess
• brainlessness
• craziness
• daftness
• dippiness
• dottiness
• fatuity
• fatuousness
• folly
• imbecility
• inanity
• insanity
• lunacy
• madness
• nonsensicalness
• nuttiness
• preposterousness
• senselessness
• silliness
• simplicity
• unwisdom
• wackiness
• witlessness
• zaniness

Examples of foolishness in a Sentence

the foolishness of going off to search for the fountain of youth

couldn't listen to another second of their foolishness, so I told them to be quiet

Recent Examples on the Web

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

The Lakers were, again, the Lakers — the version from early this season that made optimism seem nothing like foolishness. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024

After being laid off from the local hot dog factory and being inducted into a new basic income program, Mark and Hank have plenty of time on their hands to spend their $3,000 monthly checks on high jinks and foolishness. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Sep. 2024

Five glorious days for Chiles, who already had been made to endure the rollercoaster of gymnastics rule foolishness. —Dana O'Neil, The Athletic, 10 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1