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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective foolhardy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of foolhardy are adventurous, daredevil, daring, rash, reckless, and venturesome. While all these words mean "exposing oneself to danger more than required by good sense," foolhardy suggests a recklessness that is inconsistent with good sense.

the foolhardy sailor ventured into the storm

Where would adventurous be a reasonable alternative to foolhardy?

The meanings of adventurous and foolhardy largely overlap; however, adventurous implies a willingness to accept risks but not necessarily imprudence.

adventurous pioneers

When is daredevil a more appropriate choice than foolhardy?

The words daredevil and foolhardy can be used in similar contexts, but daredevil stresses ostentation in daring.

daredevil motorcyclists

When would daring be a good substitute for foolhardy?

The words daring and foolhardy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, daring implies fearlessness in courting danger.

daring mountain climbers

When might rash be a better fit than foolhardy?

In some situations, the words rash and foolhardy are roughly equivalent. However, rash suggests imprudence and lack of forethought.

a rash decision

When can reckless be used instead of foolhardy?

While in some cases nearly identical to foolhardy, reckless implies heedlessness of probable consequences.

a reckless driver

When is it sensible to use venturesome instead of foolhardy?

While the synonyms venturesome and foolhardy are close in meaning, venturesome implies a jaunty eagerness for perilous undertakings.

venturesome stunt pilots

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 foolhardy To ask the most American of movie stars to play this iconic English figure was foolhardy, and his down-to-earth authenticity gets him nowhere in the role. Will Leitch, Vulture, 1 July 2024 Overshadowing the endorsement was a foolhardy rhetorical flourish that insulted key voting blocs courted by the Republican nominee in his campaign against the Democratic nominee, New York Governor Grover Cleveland. Robert B. Mitchell / Made By History, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024 An empathy gap is obvious in online commenters who suggest, for example, that flood victims earned their fate through the foolhardy choice to live near water, that earthquake victims shouldn’t have lived near fault lines, and so on. Hazlitt, 23 Oct. 2024 And if even one state’s bioweapons program experimented with extinction-level pathogens—perhaps on a foolhardy quest to develop the ultimate deterrent—the next laboratory accident could precipitate a global pandemic much worse than that of COVID-19. William MacAskill, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2022 See all Example Sentences for foolhardy 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolhardy
Adjective
  • He was originally charged with disorderly conduct — a misdemeanor — and three counts of felony reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
    Lauryn Overhultz, Fox News, 25 Jan. 2025
  • He’s become poised to the point of being unrecognizable from his Young Josh days as a gunslinging, sometimes reckless quarterback who sometimes took himself, his teammates and Bills fans on Sunday roller-coaster rides.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Indie filmmakers can make the daring projects a studio never would and do so on the cheap.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2025
  • They were rescued on July 2, 2008, in a daring military extraction known as Operation Jaque.
    John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Allowing those convicted of these crimes to be released early diminishes accountability and devalues the sacrifices made by courageous law enforcement officers and their families.
    Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
  • For example, a person might intend to be courageous (cognition), but fear (affect) and a fight-or-flight response (physiology) can hinder action (behavior).
    Mary Crossan, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Editor’s picks Most artists were given just three or four songs, but longtime Light of Day champion Jesse Malin was allowed to play 13 as part of his brave return to the stage.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Cold Climate Adaptations: Reliable Energy in Harsh Environments For users who brave extreme temperatures, such as winter campers or marine operators navigating early-morning chills, LiTime’s batteries offer advanced cold-weather capabilities.
    Lauren Carpenter, USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Due to his high-flying, daredevil move set and unique presentation, Hardy became one of the most popular WWE Superstars of the 2000s.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
  • In 1910, a quarter of a million people had spent 10 days swooning over the Los Angeles International Aviation Meet — the nation’s first daredevil airshow.
    Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Kylie Kangaroo Kylie is an adventurous kangaroo from Australia.
    Elisa Cinelli, Parents, 16 Jan. 2025
  • At such a young age, there is still massive scope for Reis to improve; from bulking up and becoming sturdier in the shoulder-to-shoulder duels to rediscovering his adventurous distribution at the highest level of the game.
    Thom Harris, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near foolhardy

Cite this Entry

“Foolhardy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolhardy. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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