Foolishly: meaning, definitions and examples

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foolishly

 

[ ˈfuːlɪʃli ]

Adverb / Adjective
Context #1 | Adverb

used to describe an action or behavior

In a foolish manner; without good sense or judgment.

Synonyms

irrationally, stupidly, unwisely.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
foolishly

Used when someone acts without thinking carefully or sensibly, often with minor consequences.

  • She foolishly left her umbrella at home despite the weather forecast predicting rain.
  • He spent his savings foolishly on things he didn't need.
stupidly

Carries a stronger negative connotation than 'foolishly', often implying a lack of intelligence or awareness in actions.

  • He stupidly forgot his passport at home, causing them to miss their flight.
  • She handled the situation stupidly by ignoring the obvious warning signs.
irrationally

Describes actions that are not based on reason or logic, often in emotional or stressful situations.

  • He reacted irrationally when he heard the bad news, shouting at everyone around him.
  • Her fear of flying made her behave irrationally at the airport.
unwisely

Used for actions that are not prudent or sensible, often with regard to choices that have potential long-term negative impacts.

  • They unwisely invested all their money in a single, high-risk venture.
  • He unwisely chose to confront his boss in front of everyone.

Examples of usage

  • He foolishly believed he could jump over the fence.
  • She had foolishly left her wallet on the table.
  • Don't act foolishly and risk your safety.
Context #2 | Adjective

describing a person or action

Lacking good sense or judgment; unwise.

Synonyms

ridiculous, silly, unwise.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
foolishly

Used to describe someone's actions that lack good judgment or sense.

  • He spent all his money foolishly on things he didn't need
silly

Used for situations or actions that are funny but lack seriousness or importance, often in a light-hearted way.

  • She made a silly face to cheer up her little brother
unwise

Describes actions or decisions that are imprudent or not well thought out, often leading to negative consequences.

  • It was unwise to invest all his savings in a single, risky venture
ridiculous

Used to describe something that is absurd or deserving of mockery.

  • The idea of a flying car seemed ridiculous to everyone in the room

Examples of usage

  • He made a foolish decision by quitting his job without a backup plan.
  • I felt foolish for forgetting my friend's birthday.
  • The foolish prank ended up causing a lot of trouble.

Translations

Translations of the word "foolishly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 tolamente

🇮🇳 मूर्खतापूर्वक

🇩🇪 törichterweise

🇮🇩 dengan bodoh

🇺🇦 безглуздо

🇵🇱 głupio

🇯🇵 愚かに

🇫🇷 stupidement

🇪🇸 tontamente

🇹🇷 aptalca

🇰🇷 어리석게

🇸🇦 بحماقة

🇨🇿 hloupě

🇸🇰 hlúpo

🇨🇳 愚蠢地

🇸🇮 neumno

🇮🇸 heimskulega

🇰🇿 ақылсыздықпен

🇬🇪 უგუნურად

🇦🇿 ağılsızcasına

🇲🇽 tontamente

Etymology

The word 'foolishly' originates from the Middle English word 'foulishli', which is a combination of 'foolish' and the adverbial suffix '-ly'. The term has been used since the 14th century to describe actions or behaviors lacking good sense or judgment.

See also: folly, fool, foolery, foolhardy, foolish, foolishness, tomfoolery.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,315, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.