foolery

noun

ˈfül-rē How to pronounce foolery (audio)
Definition of foolerynext
1
as in insanity
a foolish act or idea investing in that company now would be foolery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in joking
wildly playful or mischievous behavior let the kids have a little foolery once in a while

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of foolery Jeffrey Jones played Principal Ed Rooney, Ferris' nemesis, who is dead set on catching Bueller in his foolery, but ultimately fails at his mission. — Emma Urdangen, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026 One way to stop this proliferation of deep-fake nudity is to prosecute the offenders and make examples that such foolery has consequences. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026 Lane didn't stop the foolery there, though. — Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 2026 The whole of humanity doesn’t fit tidily into three acts, even assuming as much frame-breaking foolery as Wilder allows. — New York Times, 25 Apr. 2022 Political pranking is traditionally thought of as benign foolery targeting the powerful. — Stanislav Budnitsky, The Conversation, 19 Apr. 2022 Eric Andre, Tyler the Creator and Machine Gun Kelly all drop by to participate in the Jack-foolery. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2022 Our magpie eyes will always be drawn to foolery and ephemera. — Giles Hattersley, Vogue, 13 Dec. 2021 Once every ten years, the first of April assumes a far more significant importance than the annual sharing of April foolery. — James Deutsch, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foolery
  1. insanity
  2. joking
  3. idiocy
  4. tomfoolery
  5. absurdity
  6. buffoonery
  7. madness
  8. clowning
Noun
  • The law revised Kentucky’s insanity defense and mandatory reentry supervision rules in response to issues raised by Exantus’ case.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • If certain compounds could seemingly induce the symptoms of insanity, then perhaps insanity was a result of faulty brain chemistry—and could thus be treated with psychiatric drugs.
    — Kimon de Greef, Longreads, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of insanity
Noun
  • Back in December 1968, Dolan wrote a joking column about the earlier Lake Worth monster, from way back in 1947.
    — Star-Telegram staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
  • Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2026
Definition of joking
Noun
  • It’s been a classic staple over decades of British comedy, which from Basil Fawlty to David Brent has rejoiced in puncturing pomposity to reveal idiocy and incompetence.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The school board’s radical idiocy does not negate the state’s obligation to think about the longer haul — specifically, the structurally unbalanced budgets facing Chicago Public Schools as far as the eye can see.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of idiocy
Noun
  • New assistant coach Alice Chilton is a blatant remodeling of Roy Kent — a brusque ex-soccer player who’s reluctant to engage with Ted’s tomfoolery or personal prodding — but Tanya Reynolds’ performance is equal turns wounded and witty.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Between their champagne problems and flirty tomfoolery, Anna disappears, initiating a futile rescue search.
    — Maggie Turner, Air Mail, 25 July 2026
Definition of tomfoolery
Noun
  • Instead, the museum focuses on language, relationships, self-mockery, and life’s absurdities, with rakija served to visitors as the ultimate symbol of Balkan resilience.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Zinn also lived through some of the absurdities that Yossarian encountered.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of absurdity
Noun
  • Still, there's a remarkable level of buffoonery in his analysis.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The show, with its interest in corporate buffoonery, doesn’t quite manage to hand-wave away the queasy implications.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of buffoonery
Noun
  • The morning of the wedding could be spent escaping the madness for a moment of peace among the trees, or arranging a pre-wedding morning coffee overlooking the estate.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Back in King’s Landing, Rhaenyra comes to find that her prisoner Helaena has taken her own life but left a parting gift for the queen that foreshadows a potential prophecy of Rhaenyra’s path towards madness.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of madness
Noun
  • The clowning might be a little too effortful.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • As the race unfolds in real time, there’s clowning, collisions, sabotage, surprises, comedy, chaos and more.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of clowning

Browse Nearby Words

fooleries
foolery
foolhardily
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Cite this Entry

“Foolery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foolery. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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