foolishness

/'fu:liʃnis/

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Word: Foolishness

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Foolishness is the quality of being silly, unwise, or acting in a way that does not show good judgment. It can refer to making stupid mistakes or behaving rashly.

Usage Instructions:

• Foolishness is often used to describe actions or decisions that a person might regret later because they did not think carefully about them.
• It can be used in both serious and light-hearted contexts.

Examples:

1. Simple Example: "It was pure foolishness to spend all his money on the latest video game when he has bills to pay."
2. Advanced Example: "Adjusting to an insane society is total foolishness; one must maintain their sense of reason and purpose."

Word Variants:

• Foolish (Adjective): Characterized by a lack of sense or judgment. For example, "His foolish decision led to many problems."
• Fool (Noun/Verb): A person who acts unwisely or a verb meaning to deceive someone. For example, "Don't fool me with your excuses."

Different Meanings:

• While "foolishness" generally refers to a lack of wisdom, it can also be used in a more humorous sense. For example, "The foolishness of children can be very entertaining."

Synonyms:

• Stupidity
• Absurdity
• Imprudence
• Recklessness

Idioms:

• "The height of folly": This phrase means the most foolish thing a person can do. For example, "Trying to fix the car without any tools was the height of folly."
• "A fool and his money are soon parted": This saying means that someone who is not wise will quickly lose their money, especially if they spend it carelessly.

Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific phrasal verbs directly related to "foolishness," but you might encounter phrases like "fool around," which means to waste time or behave in a silly manner.

Summary:

Foolishness describes acts that lack sense or reason, often leading to regret or trouble. It can be used in both serious discussions and light-hearted conversations.

Academic

Noun

1. a stupid mistake
2. the quality of being rash and foolish
   • trying to drive through a blizzard is the height of folly
   • adjusting to an insane society is total foolishness
3. the trait of acting stupidly or rashly

Synonyms

• stupidity
• betise
• folly
• imbecility
• craziness
• madness
• unwiseness