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foolish
/ˈfuːlɪʃ/
lacking good sense
It was foolish of her to spend all her savings on that risky investment.
Her decision to invest all her savings in a high-risk venture was unwise.
neutral
Showing a lack of good judgment or wisdom; unwise.
The foolish decision to ignore safety warnings led to the accident.
Ignoring safety warnings was an unwise choice that caused the accident.
He made a foolish mistake by not double-checking his work.
Not double-checking his work was a careless error.
Often implies a lack of thought rather than inherent stupidity. Can describe actions, decisions, or people.
Collocations
foolish mistakea careless or unwise errorfoolish decisiona poorly judged choicefoolish riskan unnecessary or reckless gamble
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'foolish'
While 'foolish' is useful, it can sound harsh. Consider softer alternatives like 'unwise' or 'reckless' in sensitive contexts.
Gold Rule
Distinguish from 'stupid'
'Foolish' implies a lack of judgment or thought, while 'stupid' suggests a lack of intelligence. For example, 'It was foolish to skip breakfast' vs. 'He is stupid for not knowing basic math.'
Word Origin
From Middle English 'folish', derived from Old English 'fōl' (fool) + '-ish' (suffix forming adjectives). Related to Old French 'fol' (mad) and Latin 'follis' (windbag, fool).
Usage Notes
Used to describe actions, decisions, or people lacking good sense. More polite than 'stupid' but still critical. Often used in formal or neutral contexts.
Word Breakdown
fool
a person lacking good sense or judgment
root-ish
suffix forming adjectives, meaning 'having the quality of'
suffixEnglish Dictionary