Foolishness: meaning, definitions and examples

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foolishness

[ˈfuːlɪʃnəs ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

lack of good sense

Foolishness refers to the lack of good sense or judgement. It is the quality of being silly or unwise, often resulting in poor decision-making.

Synonyms

irrationality, silliness, stupidity.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
foolishness	A duplicate of the word above. It seems there might be a mistake. Please disregard or replace with another term.
silliness	To denote light-hearted or humorous actions or thoughts, often used affectionately or in a not very serious manner. His silliness always makes everyone laugh. Stop that silliness and focus on your work.
stupidity	To strongly criticize someone’s lack of intelligence or poor decisions, often used in a harsh or negative manner. His stupidity is beyond belief. Because of their stupidity, the whole plan failed.
irrationality	When emphasizing the lack of logic or reason behind someone's thoughts or actions, often used in a more formal or serious context. Her irrationality about the situation made it hard to have a proper conversation. They were frustrated by his irrationality during the meeting.

Examples of usage

He was known for his foolishness in spending all his money on unnecessary things.
Her foolishness led her to trust the wrong people, causing her harm.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

absurdity

Another meaning of foolishness is absurdity or nonsense. It refers to something that is illogical or unreasonable.

Synonyms

absurdity, nonsense, ridiculousness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
foolishness	This word can be used to describe a lack of good sense or judgment in someone's actions or thoughts. It implies a level of silliness or unwise behavior. Jumping into the freezing water without a wetsuit was pure foolishness. His foolishness often got him into trouble at school.
absurdity	Absurdity highlights something that is extremely unreasonable or illogical, often to the point where it cannot be taken seriously. It can also refer to a situation that seems irrational. The absurdity of the situation made everyone laugh. The idea that pigs could fly was pure absurdity.
nonsense	Used to describe language, ideas, or actions that are silly, absurd, or have no meaning. It often carries a dismissive tone, implying that something should not be taken seriously. Talking about aliens controlling our minds is complete nonsense. She dismissed his conspiracy theories as nonsense.
ridiculousness	This word is used to point out how something is extremely silly or unreasonable, often in a way that it appears laughable or worthy of mockery. The ridiculousness of wearing a heavy coat in summer was clear to everyone. The movie was full of ridiculousness, making it hard to take seriously.

Examples of usage

The plan was full of foolishness and had no chance of success.
Don't waste your time on such foolishness, focus on more important matters.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Middle English 'foolish,' which originally meant 'like a fool.'
It traces back to the Old French word 'fol,' meaning 'crazy' or 'mad,' showing deep roots in language.
In Latin, the word 'follis' refers to a bag or bellows, hinting at emptiness or lack of wisdom.

Psychology

Studies show that people often misjudge risks when under stress, leading to decisions that can seem foolish.
Cognitive biases, like the Dunning-Kruger effect, can cause individuals with limited knowledge to overestimate their understanding, resulting in foolish actions.
Often, people engage in foolish behaviors due to a desire for social acceptance or peer approval.

Literature

In Shakespeare’s plays, characters who act foolishly often provide comic relief, highlighting the folly of human nature.
In 'Don Quixote,' the protagonist's misguided adventures represent both foolishness and the pursuit of noble ideals.
Aesop's fables often teach lessons about foolishness, such as in 'The Tortoise and the Hare,' where overconfidence leads to defeat.

Pop Culture

Foolishness is a common theme in movies and TV, often depicted through characters whose silly antics drive the plot.
The phrase 'April fools!' marks the day when people play tricks on each other, celebrating foolish behavior.
Music often portrays foolishness in a light-hearted way, such as in songs where characters find humor in their mistakes.

Philosophy

Philosophers have long debated the nature of foolishness, pondering whether it is simply ignorance or a deeper flaw in character.
The concept of 'fool's gold' signifies deception; something appears valuable but is worthless because of the foolishness in believing it.
In different cultures, wisdom often contrasts with foolishness, leading to teachings that emphasize understanding and knowledge over blind belief.

Translations

Translations of the word "foolishness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 tolice

🇮🇳 मूर्खता

🇩🇪 Dummheit

🇮🇩 kebodohan

🇺🇦 дурість

🇵🇱 głupota

🇯🇵 愚かさ

🇫🇷 stupidité

🇪🇸 tontería

🇹🇷 aptallık

🇰🇷 어리석음

🇸🇦 حماقة

🇨🇿 hloupost

🇸🇰 hlúposť

🇨🇳 愚蠢

🇸🇮 neumnost

🇮🇸 heimskulegt

🇰🇿 ақылсыздық

🇬🇪 უაზრობა

🇦🇿 axmaqlıq

🇲🇽 tontería

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,404, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

...
17401 agility
17402 intolerant
17403 quarrying
17404 foolishness
17405 opioid
17406 alleviation
17407 commodious
...