Synonyms for folly
ˈfɒl ifol·ly

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. folly

   Idiocy is a state of mental unsoundness amounting almost or quite to total absence of understanding. Imbecility is a condition of mental weakness, which may or may not be as complete as that of idiocy, but is at least such as to incapacitate for the serious duties of life. Incapacity, or lack of legal qualification for certain acts, necessarily results from imbecility, but may also result from other causes, as from insanity or from age, sex, etc.; as, the incapacity of a minor to make a contract. Idiocy or imbecility is weakness of mind, while insanity is disorder or abnormal action of mind. Folly and foolishness denote a want of mental and often of moral balance. Fatuity is sometimes used as equivalent to idiocy, but more frequently signifies conceited and excessive foolishness or folly. Stupidity is dulness and slowness of mental action which may range all the way from lack of normal readiness to absolute imbecility. Compare INSANITY.

   Synonyms:
   fatuity, foolishness, idiocy, imbecility, incapacity, senselessness, stupidity

   Antonyms:
   acuteness, astuteness, brilliancy, capacity, common sense, intelligence, sagacity, sense, soundness, wisdom

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. folly

   Synonyms:
   madness, nonsense, misconduct, imprudence, silliness, foolishness, weakness, absurdity, imbecility

   Antonyms:
   sense, wisdom, sanity, judgment, prudence, sobriety

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. folly, foolishness, unwisenessnoun

   the trait of acting stupidly or rashly

   Synonyms:
   lunacy, imbecility, madness, foolery, betise, tomfoolery, indulgence, unwiseness, foolishness, stupidity, craziness

   Antonyms:
   wiseness, wisdom

2. stupidity, betise, folly, foolishness, imbecilitynoun

   a stupid mistake

   Synonyms:
   lunacy, imbecility, madness, foolery, betise, tomfoolery, stupidity, indulgence, unwiseness, foolishness, craziness

   Antonyms:
   wisdom, wiseness

3. folly, foolishness, craziness, madnessnoun

   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"

   Synonyms:
   lunacy, foolishness, flakiness, fury, daftness, madness, rabidity, imbecility, stupidity, hydrophobia, rabidness, foolery, tomfoolery, lyssa, craziness, insaneness, indulgence, rage, rabies, unwiseness, betise

   Antonyms:
   wisdom, wiseness

4. folly, foolery, tomfoolery, craziness, lunacy, indulgencenoun

   foolish or senseless behavior

   Synonyms:
   lunacy, foolishness, flakiness, indulging, daftness, madness, lenience, pampering, stupidity, humoring, leniency, foolery, tomfoolery, self-indulgence, craziness, insaneness, indulgence, imbecility, unwiseness, betise

   Antonyms:
   wisdom, wiseness

Matched Categories

1. • Mistake
   • Play
   • Stupidity
   • Trait

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. follynoun

   Synonyms:
   foolishness, imbecility, fatuity, stupidity, shallowness, dulness, doltishness

2. follynoun

   Synonyms:
   absurdity, extravagance, imprudence, nonsense, indiscretion, act of folly, foolish act

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. follynoun

   Synonyms:
   foolishness, fatuity, indiscretion, unwisdom, absurdity, imprudence

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "folly":

   madness, insanity, foolishness, lunacy, follies, craziness, stupidity, nonsense, thoughtlessness, crazy

Suggested Resources

1. folly

   Song lyrics by folly -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by folly on the Lyrics.com website.

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How to use folly in a sentence?

1. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier:

   It would be folly to continue betting on a military solution, now is the time to find a way to bring the parties to the negotiating table. This must include preparatory talks with and among crucial regional actors like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, but also Iran.

2. Chuck Hagel:

   This is folly. This is political distraction of the highest magnitude.

3. President Trump:

   After more than two decades of waivers, we are no closer to a lasting peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, it would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula would now produce a different or better result.

4. La Rochefoucauld:

   The man who lives free from folly is not so wise as he thinks.

5. George Bernard Shaw:

   A fool's brain digests philosophy into folly, science into superstition, and art into pedantry. Hence University education.