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
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
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Recent Examples of fool
Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
This fool-proof outfit is comfortable and fashionable.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
Tatum then isolated against the Spurs big man, fooled him with an up-fake, finished at the rim and smiled after being shoved to the ground.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fool
Noun
Trouble was, that season proved to be more fool’s gold than foundational.
—Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
This fool-proof outfit is comfortable and fashionable.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
The viral claim has been confirmed as satire by both local law enforcement and independent fact-checkers — but before the truth caught up, the story had already reached countless feeds and fooled plenty of readers along the way.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
Tatum then isolated against the Spurs big man, fooled him with an up-fake, finished at the rim and smiled after being shoved to the ground.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fool
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fool
Noun
-
The danger is in doing nothing as theocratic lunatics continue to weaponize with atomic bombs and modern missile delivery systems.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Even then, though, the popular take — the story of the lunatics taking over asylum — didn’t sit right with me.—
Paul Fischer,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The film follows a clown, consumed by a desperate need for validation, who accepts a private booking, expecting a children’s party — only to discover his audience is a group of millennials and Gen Z adults who openly mock his performance.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Performances and stunts are delivered by international acrobats and clowns during music and light shows.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Non-native species like grass carp and common carp, and native blue sucker, bigmouth buffalo, black buffalo, and smallmouth buffalo, have occasionally been mistaken for black carp.—
Cheyenne Derksen,
Oklahoman,
18 Mar. 2026
-
One of the largest suckers in North America, the Razorback Sucker can grow up to three feet long.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Hatosy’s Titus is the Danforths’ disappointing fail son and the actor keeps his face in a delightfully foolish little pout.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Your fast response and decisive actions prevented this foolish criminal act from endangering the rest of the county.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) that allows two challenges per team — losing them only when incorrect — at least holds the plate umpire accountable when his eyes deceive him.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Svetlana Petriychuk wrote the play Finist, the Brave Falcon, based on real events, about Russian women deceived into marrying ISIS fighters and traveling to Syria.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Larson first thought Bronin was joking.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Bridges jokes that her staff are more nervous about a drop-by visit from her than from state inspectors.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The spill hit 1,300 miles of coastline, leading to the deaths of about 900 bald eagles, 300 seals, 1,000 harlequin ducks, 2,800 sea otters and 250,000 seabirds, according to the conservation group Oceana.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
If the Brits are anything to go by, feather boas and harlequin jumpsuits are out, and French-girl flats are in.—
Alice Newbold,
Vogue,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Theme park lovers who yearn for the mines will have their wish granted in 2027 with the debut of Minecraft World.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2026
-
One of the team's biggest lovers of shoes, senior Rori Harmon gave her stamp of approval.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fool.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fool. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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