fool 1 of 3

1
2
as in clown
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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fool

2 of 3

adjective

fool

3 of 3

verb

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 fool
Noun
So, no, the Heat coach does not view hope amid this latest 1-6 run as a fool’s errand. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2025 The uncertainty means that while there has been a degree of recovery in the TV market, planning too far ahead is a fool’s errand. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
Don’t let the green mist tinged with white lightning and rotating cosmic orifices fool you, however: Ingesting psychedelic drugs is not recommended before watching this film. Katie Rife, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025 Related article Stop being fooled by misinformation. Julianna Bragg, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fool
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fool
Noun
  • Parsons called him a jealous clown, in so many words.
    Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Who was the biggest Death of a Unicorn class clown?
    Jack Smart, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Clip away suckers or small sprouts that are growing from the base of the tree.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Extended deterrence was a sham, and the people who relied on it were suckers.
    Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • No matter what your feelings are about Sternberg and his executive team today, these are not foolish people.
    John Romano, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025
  • There's nothing foolish about choosing beauty over practicality if that's what your heart desires.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Holding a lot of cash in the bank may feel like the absolute most comfortable option, but don’t be deceived.
    Eric Roberge, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Any clinic that is promising instant, full growth in a few weeks is deceiving you.
    Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk joked about actor Jesse Eisenberg undergoing military training after the film star was approved for Poland citizenship last week.
    Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Foley continued, again joking about the 1985 film Cocoon, about a group of seniors who become energized with youth after an encounter with aliens.
    EW.com, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Once infused with the diabolical spirit, the guide is transformed into a buffoon, complete with a harlequin outfit—a mad joker and a dancing fool who does a little jig to the sound of a jazz trio.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025
  • But this harlequin moll can’t match Joker’s lunacy as either lawbreaker or musician.
    Armond White, National Review, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Despite his hardened outlook on Heis, Rema remains a lover at heart.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Whiskey fans would have to shell out three times as much for bottles of brands like Jameson and Tullamore Dew — which are produced in Ireland — while vodka lovers would have to save up for Polish vodkas like Belvedere.
    Meredith Kile, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • These psychopaths care more about enforcing DEI than saving lives!
    Khaleda Rahman, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Some of the more jarring sequences remain amusing despite their brashness: At one point, for example, Mickey narrates a shocking vignette—about a psychopath on Earth who printed multiple copies of himself to carry out grisly murders—with the resigned, wary tone of an office worker.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Fool.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fool. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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