1
as in goofy
lacking in seriousness or maturity
the movie follows the harebrained antics of a pair of stoners who seem incapable of growing up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in foolish
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
a harebrained idea to go for a hike in an area where grizzly bear attacks had recently been reported
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harebrained
Khrushchev’s harebrained scheme involved transporting medium- and intermediate-range nuclear missiles by ship to Cuba, while somehow managing to avoid detection by NATO.
—
Timothy Naftali, Foreign Affairs, 16 Nov. 2022
However, there is a certain charm to the harebrained things that got greenlit in the age of Aqua Net and leg warmers.
—Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 20 May 2024
In the first season, Lance is Brooke’s loser boyfriend, who is always pitching harebrained ideas for custom sneakers.
—Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 9 June 2023
Only the steeliest of investors would dare become an entrepreneur in this economy; wannabe investors cling on to solid careers rather than risk it all for some harebrained cash grab.
—Robert Stevens, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2022
See all Example Sentences for harebrained 
Timothy Naftali, Foreign Affairs, 16 Nov. 2022
However, there is a certain charm to the harebrained things that got greenlit in the age of Aqua Net and leg warmers.
—Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 20 May 2024
In the first season, Lance is Brooke’s loser boyfriend, who is always pitching harebrained ideas for custom sneakers.
—Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 9 June 2023
Only the steeliest of investors would dare become an entrepreneur in this economy; wannabe investors cling on to solid careers rather than risk it all for some harebrained cash grab.
—Robert Stevens, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2022
See all Example Sentences for harebrained
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harebrained
Adjective
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As his goofy face is soon detached from the rest of his body and tossed around the room like a hot potato, blood spraying in all directions, the class is left traumatized and Mr. Bunting’s dismissal suddenly starts to feel slightly warranted.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2025
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The premise: Jim (Will Ferrell) is a goofy widowed dad whose daughter Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan) has gotten engaged; Margot (Reese Witherspoon) is an uptight businesswoman whose younger sister Neve (Meredith Hagner) has gotten engaged.—
Moira MacDonald / Seattle Times,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The bottom line: try not to be weather wise, climate foolish.—
Renee Winick,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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Trump's plan for redevelopment of Gaza Strip is both foolish and unworkable, not a great combination.—
Baltimore Sun Editorial Board,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Today, Sophia Smith, a Colorado kid whose commute from Windsor and dedication to soccer makes my story look silly, is making more than $500,000 a year in her new contract with the Portland Thorns, and reports say her outside contracts and sponsorships are worth another $1.2 million.—
Megan Schrader,
The Denver Post,
9 Feb. 2025
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The way bacon is packaged in this country is silly.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The premise itself is both deeply stupid and incredibly clever (the sweet spot, really).—
Erin Strecker,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2025
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Some of the replies were the usual stupid snark on social media from people who thrive on being negative.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Telling people to evacuate with no plan — or even an actual route — seems pretty futile.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Feb. 2025
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Loading your audio article SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks defenseman Cody Ceci has been around long enough to know that trying to predict what’s going to happen at the NHL trade deadline – particularly five weeks ahead of time – can be a futile endeavor.—
Curtis Pashelka,
The Mercury News,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This gorgeous film’s premise is a simple, humanist, and not particularly dramatic one, of the type that the Italian neorealists treasured, but it’s been given an absurd, comic-romantic spin.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2025
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These absurd names and acronyms speak to both the cult-y side of the Eagans and to the ways that corporations keep trying to reinvent things, words included, that worked just fine as is.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The crowd got loose and giddy as Dončić was introduced last, conspicuously after LeBron James.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
The Athletic,
12 Feb. 2025
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The movie concludes with a twenty-two-minute take that’s too giddy a jolt to spoil.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Alternatively, Danielle is mad at Boston Rob, crying about voting out Bob the Drag Queen, and trying to get out my queen Carolyn.—
Ana Osorno,
Them,
30 Jan. 2025
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The project stars Oscar Isaac as the titular mad scientist and Jacob Elordi as his monstrous creation, and also features Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near harebrained
Cite this Entry
“Harebrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harebrained. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
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