fool

117 synonyms and 1 antonym for fool, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A person who acts or thinks without good sense or judgment.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Charlie stupid tool shoot

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

clown dope dummy fiddle gig jerk maroon moron mug sucker wally cod slang

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

simpleton jester alcatote bayard berk birdbrain blither bobchin bonehead bozo buffoon brickhead chucklehead chowderhead chump clart der-brain dill pickle dim bulb dimwit dingleberry dipstick dirtbrain div divvo divvy dolt donk doodle doofus dork dote dotterel dullard dumbbell dumbo dunce dunderhead fathead fenderhead fuzznut geck gink goober gooseberry gowk gubbins gump ha'p'orth Homer Simpson ignoramus imbecile jamoke jerkoff jolterhead jolthead juggins jughead knucklehead lamebrain mameluke (US (Italian-American) slang) meathead mong muggins mushhead nimrod nincompoop nit nitwit not the sharpest knife in the drawer numskull numps numpty nupson oaf pillock pinhead plonker prat schmo schmuck smooth brain snapperhead softhead sot thickhead tonto tosspot tubelight twerp twit wantwit wazzock yampy befool dissipate fritter gull dupe

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A person who acts or thinks without good sense or judgment.

“Only a fool would invest his life savings without doing any research.”

simpleton jester alcatote bayard berk birdbrain blither bobchin bonehead bozo buffoon brickhead Charlie chucklehead chowderhead chump clart der-brain clown dill pickle dim bulb dimwit dingleberry dipstick dirtbrain div divvo divvy dolt donk doodle doofus dope dork dote dotterel dullard dumbbell dumbo dummy dunce dunderhead fathead fenderhead fiddle fuzznut geck gig gink goober gooseberry gowk gubbins gump ha'p'orth Homer Simpson ignoramus imbecile jamoke jerk jerkoff jolterhead jolthead juggins jughead knucklehead lamebrain mameluke (US (Italian-American) slang) maroon meathead mong moron mug muggins mushhead nimrod nincompoop nit nitwit not the sharpest knife in the drawer numskull numps numpty nupson oaf pillock pinhead plonker prat schmo schmuck smooth brain snapperhead softhead sot stupid sucker thickhead tonto tool tosspot tubelight twerp twit wally wantwit wazzock yampy

Opposites

sage

2. verb

To trick or deceive someone.

“The scammer fooled dozens of people out of their savings.”

cod befool shoot dissipate slang fritter gull dupe

How to use fool

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

make a fool of fool around nobody's fool

Etymology

From Old French fol, "mad," ultimately from Latin follis, "bellows" or "bag of air" — the idea being a fool is all wind, no substance.

Full origin of fool →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fool” mean?

The word “fool” means a person who acts or thinks without good sense or judgment. In plain terms, someone who lacks good judgment, or the act of deceiving someone; also a fruity British dessert.

How do you pronounce “fool”?

“Fool” is pronounced fool (/fuːl/ in IPA).

How do you use “fool” in a sentence?

Here is “fool” used in a sentence: “Only a fool would invest his life savings without doing any research.”

What is another word for “fool”?

Words with a similar meaning to “fool” include alcatote, asshat, bayard, berk, birdbrain and blither.

What is the opposite of “fool”?

The opposite of “fool” — its antonyms — is sage.

What part of speech is “fool”?

Depending on how it is used, “fool” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “fool” come from?

The word “fool” comes from Latin. From Old French fol, "mad," ultimately from Latin follis, "bellows" or "bag of air" — the idea being a fool is all wind, no substance.

Is “fool” a common word?

“Fool” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

What is the difference between 'fool' and 'idiot'?

Both describe a person lacking good sense, but 'fool' often focuses on foolish behaviour or poor judgment, while 'idiot' is harsher and directly attacks intelligence. 'Fool' can also be used lightly or affectionately, which 'idiot' rarely is.

What was a 'fool' in a royal court?

Historically, a 'fool' was a jester employed to entertain a royal court with jokes, songs, and antics. Court fools were sometimes permitted to mock powerful people in ways others could not.

People also searched

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Nearby words

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