foolish

foolish 1 *simple, silly, fatuous, asinine

Analogous words: idiotic, imbecilic, moronic (see corresponding nouns at FOOL)

Contrasted words: intelligent, clever, quick-witted, bright, smart

2 Foolish, silly, absurd, preposterous, as applied to a person, his acts, behavior, and utterances, mean ridiculous because not exhibiting good sense.

Something is foolish which does not commend itself to the judgment of others as wise or sensible or judicious

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a foolish investment

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courageous behavior is easier for a man who fails to apprehend dangers, but such courage may often be foolish— Russell

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only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment— Roosevelt

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Something is silly which seems witless, pointless, or futile

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a silly dispute

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a silly sacrifice

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how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be, especially if he's getting on in years— Hammett

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Something is absurd which is inconsistent with accepted ideas, common sense, or sound reason; the word is applied, therefore, to ideas and projects considered impersonally as well as to persons and their acts

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the absurd . . . dogma that the king can do no wrong— Shaw

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the absurd predicament of seeming to argue that virtue is highly desirable but intensely unpleasant— Lippmann

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Something is preposterous which is glaringly absurd

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if a man cannot see a church, it is preposterous to take his opinion about its altarpiece or painted window— T. H. Huxley

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or sometimes merely highly unsuitable or ridiculously out of keeping (as with a particular character or situation)

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he put on his preposterous old flowered cashmere dressing gown— D eland

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Analogous words: ridiculous, ludicrous, *laughable

Antonyms: sensible

Contrasted words: *wise, sane, judicious, prudent, sage, sapient