1
as in lunatic
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
only a fool would attempt to climb that mountain unprepared
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clown
a person formerly kept in a royal or noble household to amuse with jests and pranks
a king's fool could get away with saying things that others in the palace couldn't
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sucker
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something
I'm a fool for ice cream
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in psychopath
a person having or showing a severely disordered or abnormal state of mind
he got out of serving in the army by successfully pretending to be a fool
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in foolish
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
he's always got some fool plan or other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to deceive
to cause to believe what is untrue
I fooled him into thinking that we were driving to the store, not to his surprise birthday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to joke
to make jokes
an edgy comedian fooling with an appreciative college audience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fool
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
Historically, betting against bigs who can pass is a fool’s errand.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2025
But don’t be fooled by the unconventional look of the Splatter Mugs—they’re surprisingly ergonomic and pleasant to drink from; their thick sides have good heat retention; and the stable, sturdy bases protect surfaces from heat and prevent tipping.
—Alaina Chou, Bon Appétit, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fool
Noun
Seth Rogen stars in The Studio as Matt Remick, the fool whose dreams will be stomped on throughout The Studio.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
Historically, betting against bigs who can pass is a fool’s errand.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
Finca Courtesy of Finca Though Finca markets itself as a casual restaurant, don’t be fooled into thinking the food is anything less than brilliant.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2025
But don’t be fooled by the unconventional look of the Splatter Mugs—they’re surprisingly ergonomic and pleasant to drink from; their thick sides have good heat retention; and the stable, sturdy bases protect surfaces from heat and prevent tipping.
—Alaina Chou, Bon Appétit, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fool
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fool
Noun
-
In real time, the audience, the queens watching, and perhaps Suzie herself all learn that Suzie has a knack for sexiness onstage, even though she’s dressed as a clown.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Among the mass-shooting victims is a bloodied clown who was performing at the festival.—
James Poniewozik,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
These stems, called suckers, are a different variety than the top growth and will have different flowers, as well as drawing energy and resources away from the main plant.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Whatever the color, your boy Ethan Hunt is gonna hang on that sucker for dear life because he’s got things to do and a world to save yet again.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
While tailback isn’t a need, only foolish franchises pass up adding generational talents such as Jeanty.—
Omar Kelly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Evening rush-hour commuters — who thought winter was over — felt foolish after the city was socked with a record-breaking spring snowfall.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But as, as the brilliant evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller notes, our capacities to judge competence have evolved, so too have our capacities to deceive others about it.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
And Ken claims to be a man of faith but uses fake Uber accounts to meet his girlfriend and deceive his family.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The scene cuts to a confessional, where the Good American founder jokes that Scott should have been more careful while filming the past scene.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
28 Feb. 2025
-
To some observers, the incessant joking was the sort of heartless mirth that social media had been running on for decades.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
The New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Learn more about management options and which food plants are most susceptible to this insect in our harlequin bug on vegetables web page.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Once infused with the diabolical spirit, the guide is transformed into a buffoon, complete with a harlequin outfit—a mad joker and a dancing fool who does a little jig to the sound of a jazz trio.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Cabot Creamery butter lovers may want to check their fridges following a recent recall.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Below shop our top Easter gifts for kids and every person in your life, including the foodie, self-care lover, and homebody.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The first introduced the audience to the cast of the film: Sally Hawkins, playing a kindly foster mother who — as Danny introduced her — might be a psychopath, Billy Barratt and Sora Wong as her two new foster kids, and Jonah Wren Phillips as her younger, troubled foster son.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2025
-
In separate filings, the defense is also asking the court to limit the use of the words murder, psychopath and sociopath.—
Michael Ruiz,
Fox News,
8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fool.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fool. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share