foolishness

[ foo-lish-nis ]

noun

1. lack of wisdom or good judgment; foolish quality:

   Oh, the foolishness of thinking that wealth brings happiness!

2. foolish talk, ideas, or behavior:

   How could someone with such a clever mind as yourself talk such foolishness?

3. a foolish act, error, habit, etc.:

   Shakespeare, who looks at all men as if from Mount Olympus, notes their foibles and foolishnesses, and yet smiles on them all.

Other Words From

• o·ver·fool·ish·ness noun
• un·fool·ish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of foolishness¹

foolish + -ness

Example Sentences

Motherhood has made Slate gentler on herself, sloughing off feelings of foolishness, self-criticism and self-doubt.

From Los Angeles Times

But I’m thrown into this chain of events and I have to see it through, against the racism and the B.S. and the foolishness of these people.

From Los Angeles Times

It's that time of the year again - the annual act of foolishness in which I try to predict the outcome of the 2024-25 season for all 20 Premier League clubs.

From BBC

It’s our responsibility, then, to rectify this foolishness and shed light on the ways in which Los Angeles influences fashion.

From Los Angeles Times

Is this foolishness, an impossibility given the metastasizing violence?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absurdity
• bunk
• craziness
• folly
• indiscretion
• insanity
• irrationality
• irresponsibility
• lunacy
• rubbish
• silliness
• stupidity