1
as in insanity
a foolish act or idea
the American purchase of Alaska was originally considered a grand folly
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in madness
lack of good sense or judgment
in all my folly, I didn't think about how my actions would hurt my father
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
enough of this folly about moving to the Australian outback
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of folly
But that’s the folly of blindly looking ahead.
—
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
And now the supercilious Ivy League twits try to dodge the consequences of their woke follies.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Dec. 2025
The follies of youth can go both ways.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2025
Nuance and curiosity carry this tale of a compulsively ambitious man who rose from the depths of poverty on a California lemon ranch to the highest perch of American superpower before burning his wings on the folly of his own paranoia and insecurities.
—Tim Greiving, HollywoodReporter, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for folly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folly
Noun
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She was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2006 and was placed in a maximum-security psychiatric center in Texas, where she's resided ever since.—
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In addition, only 26% of defendants raising the insanity defense were found not guilty by reason of insanity.—
Noun
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But there was some method to the madness here, as UConn, which didn’t take a free throw in the first half, took 18 in the second half and OT.—
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Ditlevsen writes beautifully, and her sly and specific humor always manages to both undercut and deepen the madness and love in all of her books.—
Noun
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Crucially, the eggs were fittingly fluffy, none of that rubbery nonsense that plague lesser burrito slingers.—
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All’s Fair is girlboss nonsense.—
Noun
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But the comedians also used those laughs to reveal the fundamental absurdity of violence and conflict.—
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Rather than focusing solely on superpowers, the series leans into the absurdities and insecurities of the entertainment industry, pulling back the curtain on fame, failure, and second chances.—
Noun
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Behind the classy presentation is a working-class spirit, one that honors the simplicity of showing up, being yourself and doing your job.—
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The rover’s two-wheel design reflects UEL’s emphasis on surface mobility and system simplicity.—
Noun
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So please excuse my ignorance and stupidity here, but.—
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That’s how stupidity often is—causing problems, but also presenting opportunities.—
Noun
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Telling the story of the clashing egos and raging idiocy of the fictional Spinal Tap, Reiner both directed and starred as the filmmaker-within-the-film Marty DiBergi.—
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Advertisement Aster keenly satirizes Joe’s idiocy in the face of social upheaval through the iconography of Westerns.—
Noun
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Advertisement With apt timing, manner, and physicality, DiCaprio translates Bob’s foolishness into a dazzling comedic show.—
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In the world of Saturday Church, there’s no need to uphold binary foolishness.—
Cite this Entry
“Folly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folly. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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