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Webster 1913 Edition


Foolish

Fool′ish

,
Adj.
1.
Marked with, or exhibiting, folly; void of understanding; weak in intellect; without judgment or discretion; silly; unwise.
I am a very
foolish
fond old man.
Shakespeare
2.
Such as a fool would do; proceeding from weakness of mind or silliness; exhibiting a want of judgment or discretion;
as, a
foolish
act
.
3.
Absurd; ridiculous; despicable; contemptible.
Syn. – Absurd; shallow; shallow-brained; brainless; simple; irrational; unwise; imprudent; indiscreet; incautious; silly; ridiculous; vain; trifling; contemptible. See
Absurd
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Foolish

FOOL'ISH

,
Adj.
1.
Void of understanding or sound judgment; weak in intellect; applied to general character.
2.
Unwise; imprudent; acting without judgment or discretion in particular things.
3.
Proceeding from folly, or marked with folly; silly; vain; trifling.
But foolish questions avoid. 2Tim. 2.
4.
Ridiculous; despicable.
A foolish figure he must make.
5.
In scripture, wicked; sinful; acting without regard to the divine law and glory, or to one's own eternal happiness.
O foolish Galatians - Ga. 3.
6.
Proceeding from depravity; sinful; as foolish lusts. 1Tim. 6.

Definition 2024


foolish

foolish

English

Adjective

foolish (comparative foolisher or more foolish, superlative foolishest or most foolish)

  1. (of a person, an action, etc.) Lacking good sense or judgement; unwise.
    Being foolish once in a while does not make one a foolish person.
    • 1915, George A. Birmingham, chapter I”, in Gossamer (Project Gutenberg; EBook #24394), London: Methuen & Co., published 8 January 2013 (Project Gutenberg version), OCLC 558189256:
      As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could.
  2. Resembling or characteristic of a fool.
    Being foolish once in a while does not make one a foolish person.
    • Aeschylus
      It is a profitable thing, if one is wise, to seem foolish.

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