1
as in insanity
lack of good sense or judgment
the foolishness of going off to search for the fountain of youth
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
couldn't listen to another second of their foolishness, so I told them to be quiet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stupidness
the quality or state of lacking intelligence or quickness of mind
you didn't fail the test because of any innate foolishness but because of a lack of preparation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foolishness
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
The leaders of the current protests understand, too, that there is no overestimating the foolishness of many of today’s lemming students who will follow any radical opposition to establishment values.
—Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2024
And now Duke expects its customers to pay of its foolishness?
—Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for 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
The leaders of the current protests understand, too, that there is no overestimating the foolishness of many of today’s lemming students who will follow any radical opposition to establishment values.
—Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2024
And now Duke expects its customers to pay of its foolishness?
—Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for foolishness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolishness
Noun
-
If Laws is found not guilty by reason of insanity, she will be committed to a state hospital for an extended period, News4SA reports.—
KC Baker,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
-
Smearing myself with Max Factor blood and crawling around an Arab graveyard at five o’clock in the morning as the sun rose over the pyramids was absolute insanity.—
Bill Wyman,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Writing nonsense just to make word / article quotas.—
Harman Dayal,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
-
The Baltimore Sun owes Baltimore Ravens placekicker Justin Tucker a headline apology and let this nonsense go.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This species of madness that infects the nation Airman Bushnell’s moral sacrifice disdains.—
Kary Love,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
But with a few notable exceptions, America’s business leaders were silent about the sheer madness of Trump’s launching a trade war without legitimate justification.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For me that’s always been identity, men, technology, and my own stupidity.—
Seth Abramovitch,
The Hollywood Reporter,
12 Feb. 2025
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Betting against Mahomes in a big game fits in nicely with all the stupidity going around.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The sites hawk their wares with scientific specificity: microprinting in dots per inch, card thickness in micrometers (polycarbonate stock for that stiff, authentic feel) and various types of laminates.—
Kaja Andric,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Plyometric training increases thickness and volume of knee articular cartilage in mice Cleveland Clinic.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Despite its simplicity, the coin toss is a pivotal moment in the Super Bowl, one that carries weight far beyond its apparent randomness.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
8 Feb. 2025
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While ETFs offer intraday liquidity for investors, some financial advisors and their clients may prefer the long-term track records and simplicity of traditional money market funds, many of which are designed to trade at $1.—
Jesse Pound,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Trump has always trafficked in absurdity, but there was a time when his bombast at least had a strategic purpose.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
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Many have judged both him and us based on accusations, conspiracy theories, and false narratives that have spiraled into absurdity on social media.—
Claudia Rosenbaum,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The property also grows its own herbs, greens, nuts, berries, and edible flowers.—
Bianca Salonga,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Focus on whole foods like fruits, leafy green vegetables, fatty fish, nuts, and seeds.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
5 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to foolishness
Thesaurus Entries Near foolishness
Cite this Entry
“Foolishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolishness. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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