foolish

[foo-lish] /ˈfu lɪʃ/
adjective
1.
resulting from or showing a lack of sense; ill-considered; unwise:
a foolish action, a foolish speech.
2.
lacking forethought or caution.
3.
trifling, insignificant, or paltry.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English folish, foolish. See fool1, -ish1
Related forms
foolishly, adverb
foolishness, noun
overfoolish, adjective
overfoolishly, adverb
overfoolishness, noun
quasi-foolish, adjective
quasi-foolishly, adverb
unfoolish, adjective
unfoolishly, adverb
unfoolishness, noun
Synonyms
1, 2. senseless, vacant, vapid, simple, witless. Foolish, fatuous, silly, inane, stupid, asinine imply weakness of intellect and lack of judgment. Foolish implies lack of common sense or good judgment or, sometimes, weakness of mind: a foolish decision; The child seems foolish. Fatuous implies being not only foolish, dull, and vacant in mind, but complacent and highly self-satisfied as well: fatuous and self-important; fatuous answers. Silly denotes extreme and conspicuous foolishness; it may also refer to pointlessness of jokes, remarks, etc.: silly and senseless behavior; a perfectly silly statement. Inane applies to silliness that is notably lacking in content, sense, or point: inane questions that leave one no reply. Stupid implies natural slowness or dullness of intellect, or, sometimes, a benumbed or dazed state of mind; it is also used to mean foolish or silly: well-meaning but stupid; rendered stupid by a blow; It is stupid to do such a thing. Asinine originally meant like an ass; it applies to witlessly stupid conversation or conduct and suggests a lack of social grace or perception: He failed to notice the reaction to his asinine remarks. 1. imprudent, unreasonable, foolhardy, irrational; thoughtless, nonsensical, ridiculous, absurd, pointless, preposterous.
Examples from the web for foolish
  • Pshaw, he would not send such a foolish ugly old woman as you about with his message.
  • The king points out that this is a foolish idea, but generously helps them do so.
  • It is also foolish to deny that racism enters into his fiction.
British Dictionary definitions for foolish

foolish

/ˈfuːlɪʃ/
adjective
1.
unwise; silly
2.
resulting from folly or stupidity
3.
ridiculous or absurd; not worthy of consideration
4.
weak-minded; simple
5.
an archaic word for insignificant
Derived Forms
foolishly, adverb
foolishness, noun
Word Origin and History for foolish
adj.

early 14c., from fool (n.) + -ish. Related: Foolishly; foolishness. Old English words for this were dysig, stunt, dol.

Idioms and Phrases with foolish