1
as in lunatic
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
only a fool would attempt to climb that mountain unprepared
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
3
as in sucker
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something
I'm a fool for ice cream
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in foolish
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
he's always got some fool plan or other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to deceive
to cause to believe what is untrue
I fooled him into thinking that we were driving to the store, not to his surprise birthday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to joke
to make jokes
an edgy comedian fooling with an appreciative college audience
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fool
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 29 July 2025
To search for color-blind remedies is, therefore, a fool’s errand.
—Idrees Kahloon, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 28 July 2025
Instead, Burke had been fooled by a very convincing optical illusion.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fool
Noun
Predicting where Liverpool’s wider finances will go in the future is a fool’s errand, not least those elements linked to on-field performance.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 29 July 2025
To search for color-blind remedies is, therefore, a fool’s errand.
—Idrees Kahloon, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
Verb
Don't be fooled by the slow start of the 2025 hurricane season.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 28 July 2025
Instead, Burke had been fooled by a very convincing optical illusion.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for fool
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fool
Noun
-
Carnival Midway’s cast of trapeze artists, aerialists, jugglers and clowns perform every hour on the half hour, starting at 1:30 p.m. (on weekends, the show kicks off at 11:30a.m.).—
Alex Schechter,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Aug. 2025
-
There’s a patient, dressed as a clown, who has his arm drilled into.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Be prepared for the inevitable by having these throat-soothing suckers in stock.—
Alex Apatoff,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Muscles contract to reduce water pressure inside the sucker.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
This new adventure will take players to the heart of Italy where ancient legends and sinister cults promise danger to anyone brave or foolish enough to dig deeper.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
With the season on the line as the Bronx Bombers now sit in third place in the American League East division, Aaron Boone would be foolish to not pull Williams from the closer role for the second time this season and hand it over to David Bednar.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But appearances can be deceiving because there's a lot of bright side here.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Some Russian media commentators also note how Alaska was once Russian territory, sold by Tsar Alexander II to the United States for a pittance in 1867 Many observers, particularly Russian, are dismissing the meeting as a sign Trump has allowed Putin to once again deceive him.—
Patrick Reevell,
ABC News,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Speaking to Variety from his home in the mountains of Idaho, Glenn jokes about the world-spanning nature of the nomination.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
18 Aug. 2025
-
She’s been booed in stadiums, joked at by mainstream media, and roasted online to the extent that both the NFL and high-profile players have publicly defended her right to attend.—
Gemma Allen,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Learn more about management options and which food plants are most susceptible to this insect in our harlequin bug on vegetables web page.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Apr. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
Car lovers, get ready to head up north to watch Corvettes compete for awards and parade across the Mighty Mac this weekend.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Today, Travelers Rest still lives up to its name, serving as a haven for nature lovers, food enthusiasts, and those seeking adventure.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
No Broward program can possibly be as wasteful and downright stupid as the Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS).—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Aug. 2025
-
This sounds very stupid, but there’s an idea in my mind.—
David Mack,
Vulture,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fool.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fool. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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