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Definition of foolish

foolish

/ˈfuːlɪʃ/
fool · ish
Adverb:foolishly
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foolish Lexical Profile

foolish Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Lacking good sense, sound judgment, or foresight; unwise.

Example

"It would be foolish to ignore the early warning signs of economic instability."

2

Feeling or appearing embarrassed, awkward, or ridiculous, especially after making a mistake.

Example

"He felt rather foolish when he realized he had been arguing for the exact same point."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for foolish

• Nearby Words

foolery
foolhardiness
foolhardy
foolish
foolishly
foolishness
foolproof

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from 'fool' and the suffix '-ish'. The root 'fool' comes via Old French 'fol' from Latin 'follis', literally meaning a leather bellows or windbag, which came to be used in Late Latin as slang for an empty-headed person.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Foolish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/foolish
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