Foolish
adjective
Not showing good sense or judgment.
It was foolish to think he might change
Often appears as...
- foolish mistake
- foolish decision
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Doing something for no good reason.
Spending all your money on a single car would be foolish.
Often appears as...
- foolish action
- foolish risk
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Showing a lack of respect or seriousness; playful.
He made a foolish face to make his daughter laugh
Often appears as...
- foolish grin
- foolish laughter
Usage tips
Approving
Colloquial
adjective
Not showing good sense or judgment.
It was foolish to think he might change
Often appears as...
- foolish mistake
- foolish decision
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Doing something for no good reason.
Spending all your money on a single car would be foolish.
Often appears as...
- foolish action
- foolish risk
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Showing a lack of respect or seriousness; playful.
He made a foolish face to make his daughter laugh
Often appears as...
- foolish grin
- foolish laughter
Usage tips
Approving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Judgment
Use when someone's action is clearly unwise, showing disapproval.
Ignoring her advice was a foolish error.
Pro Tip 2/3Consequences Matter
Often used when bad judgment leads to negative outcomes.
His foolish pride resulted in a lost friendship.
Pro Tip 3/3Serious Topics
Typically relates to important matters, not trivial ones.
A foolish strategy could cost the company greatly.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Judgment
Use when someone's action is clearly unwise, showing disapproval.
Ignoring her advice was a foolish error.
Pro Tip 2/3Consequences Matter
Often used when bad judgment leads to negative outcomes.
His foolish pride resulted in a lost friendship.
Pro Tip 3/3Serious Topics
Typically relates to important matters, not trivial ones.
A foolish strategy could cost the company greatly.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Judgment
Use when someone's action is clearly unwise, showing disapproval.
Ignoring her advice was a foolish error.
Pro Tip 2/3Consequences Matter
Often used when bad judgment leads to negative outcomes.
His foolish pride resulted in a lost friendship.
Pro Tip 3/3Serious Topics
Typically relates to important matters, not trivial ones.
A foolish strategy could cost the company greatly.
Compare with
absurddaftfoolhardyimprudentirrationalnonsensicalridiculoussenselesssillystupid
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Video examples
Bring on the learning...
But I also meet people who love what they do and couldn't imagine doing anything else. If you said, "Don't do this anymore," they'd wonder what you're talking about. It isn't what they do, it's who they are. They say, "But this is me, you know. It would be foolish to abandon this,
Video examples
The myth of Loki and the...
with only the gate left to be built. Horrified, the gods realized that not only would they lose their fertility goddess forever, but without the sun and moon the world would be plunged into eternal darkness. They wondered why they’d made such a foolish wager—
Video examples
How to raise a Black son...
Before I could say anything, tell him how foolish he had made me look in front of my friends, he derided me for being so naive. Looked me in the eye, fear consuming his face, and said, "Son, I'm sorry, but you can't act the same as your white friends.
Video examples
Let’s put the romance...
in the farc instead of masters of the universe and it comes with business benefits to not innovative enough well maybe you're not foolish not daring enough to think about the possibility of another world your customers don't love you give them more
Video examples
The tale of the doctor...
In an instant, the palace dissolved around them. The doctor found himself in an immense cave lined with countless quivering candles, each representing the duration of a life. As punishment for his Godson’s foolish attempt to master mortality,
Video examples
Atheism 2.0 PIPE Alain de...
and want to find the language to have a constructive dialogue and to feel like we can actually talk to each other and at least share some things in common. Are we foolish to be optimistic about the possibility of a world
Video examples
Chasing Rivers, Part 1:...
On many levels it was a preposterous journey, foolish, or even wrong headed I don't feel like I'm getting anywhere. It was also beautiful and symbolic. That with a relative trickle, we can bring a river back to life
Video examples
The Japanese folktale of...
And so, they buried the old woman together, to ensure her safe passage into the spirit world. The burial was complete, but the taboo of death weighed heavily on the scholar. How could he have been so foolish,
Video examples
Battling To Save...
My very best dream is to slow down the effects of climate change. That's my very best possible positive, optimistic, foolish scenario.
Video examples
Inside the mind of a...
I realized that in a world crowded with variation and contradiction, foolish preachers, only foolish preachers like I used to be,
Video examples
Bring on the learning...
But I also meet people who love what they do and couldn't imagine doing anything else. If you said, "Don't do this anymore," they'd wonder what you're talking about. It isn't what they do, it's who they are. They say, "But this is me, you know. It would be foolish to abandon this,
Video examples
The myth of Loki and the...
with only the gate left to be built. Horrified, the gods realized that not only would they lose their fertility goddess forever, but without the sun and moon the world would be plunged into eternal darkness. They wondered why they’d made such a foolish wager—
Video examples
How to raise a Black son...
Before I could say anything, tell him how foolish he had made me look in front of my friends, he derided me for being so naive. Looked me in the eye, fear consuming his face, and said, "Son, I'm sorry, but you can't act the same as your white friends.
Video examples
Let’s put the romance...
in the farc instead of masters of the universe and it comes with business benefits to not innovative enough well maybe you're not foolish not daring enough to think about the possibility of another world your customers don't love you give them more
Video examples
The tale of the doctor...
In an instant, the palace dissolved around them. The doctor found himself in an immense cave lined with countless quivering candles, each representing the duration of a life. As punishment for his Godson’s foolish attempt to master mortality,
Video examples
Atheism 2.0 PIPE Alain de...
and want to find the language to have a constructive dialogue and to feel like we can actually talk to each other and at least share some things in common. Are we foolish to be optimistic about the possibility of a world
Video examples
Chasing Rivers, Part 1:...
On many levels it was a preposterous journey, foolish, or even wrong headed I don't feel like I'm getting anywhere. It was also beautiful and symbolic. That with a relative trickle, we can bring a river back to life
Video examples
The Japanese folktale of...
And so, they buried the old woman together, to ensure her safe passage into the spirit world. The burial was complete, but the taboo of death weighed heavily on the scholar. How could he have been so foolish,
Video examples
Battling To Save...
My very best dream is to slow down the effects of climate change. That's my very best possible positive, optimistic, foolish scenario.
Video examples
Inside the mind of a...
I realized that in a world crowded with variation and contradiction, foolish preachers, only foolish preachers like I used to be,
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Thomas Carlyle
Scottish Philosopher
Foolish men imagine that because judgment for an evil thing is delayed, there is no justice; but only accident here below. Judgment for an evil thing is many times delayed some day or two, some century or two, but it is sure as life, it is sure as death.
Quote examples
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
French Philosopher
We are born weak, we need strength; helpless, we need aid; foolish, we need reason. All that we lack at birth, all that we need when we come to man's estate, is the gift of education.
Quote examples
Joyce Meyer
American Author
I used to worry about every little thing, trying to figure out every problem. Well, I realize now how foolish that was. I was no more in control of my life than the man on the moon.
Quote examples
George Orwell
British Author
Most people get a fair amount of fun out of their lives, but on balance life is suffering, and only the very young or the very foolish imagine otherwise.
Quote examples
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
American Poet
It is foolish to pretend that one is fully recovered from a disappointed passion. Such wounds always leave a scar.
Quote examples
Bruce Lee
American Actor
A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
Quote examples
Epictetus
Greek Philosopher
It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.
Quote examples
John McCarthy
American Politician
Foolishness is rarely a matter of lack of intelligence or even lack of information.
Quote examples
Albert Einstein
German Physicist
Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.
Quote examples
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
French Writer
As one grows older, one becomes wiser and more foolish.
Quote examples
Thomas Carlyle
Scottish Philosopher
Foolish men imagine that because judgment for an evil thing is delayed, there is no justice; but only accident here below. Judgment for an evil thing is many times delayed some day or two, some century or two, but it is sure as life, it is sure as death.
Quote examples
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
French Philosopher
We are born weak, we need strength; helpless, we need aid; foolish, we need reason. All that we lack at birth, all that we need when we come to man's estate, is the gift of education.
Quote examples
Joyce Meyer
American Author
I used to worry about every little thing, trying to figure out every problem. Well, I realize now how foolish that was. I was no more in control of my life than the man on the moon.
Quote examples
George Orwell
British Author
Most people get a fair amount of fun out of their lives, but on balance life is suffering, and only the very young or the very foolish imagine otherwise.
Quote examples
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
American Poet
It is foolish to pretend that one is fully recovered from a disappointed passion. Such wounds always leave a scar.
Quote examples
Bruce Lee
American Actor
A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
Quote examples
Epictetus
Greek Philosopher
It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.
Quote examples
John McCarthy
American Politician
Foolishness is rarely a matter of lack of intelligence or even lack of information.
Quote examples
Albert Einstein
German Physicist
Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.
Quote examples
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
French Writer
As one grows older, one becomes wiser and more foolish.
Example 1 of 10
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