fools

NOUN

stupid or ridiculous person

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ass boob buffoon clown idiot jerk moron nitwit stooge sucker twit

STRONG

birdbrain blockhead bonehead bore clod cretin dimwit dolt dope dunce dunderhead fathead goose ignoramus illiterate imbecile innocent lightweight loon nincompoop ninny numskull oaf sap schlemiel silly simpleton turkey twerp victim

WEAK

dumb ox easy mark fair game halfwit lamebrain

Antonyms

STRONGEST

brain

STRONG

genius

VERB

trick, mislead

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cheat deceive delude dupe hoodwink pretend

STRONG

bamboozle bluff chicane con diddle fake out flimflam fox gull hoax jive juke kid outfox play a trick on scam snow spoof take in trifle

WEAK

lead on make believe play-act put on put one over on suck in

Antonyms

STRONGEST

be honest

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The boys are not masterminds; the victims are not fools.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026

“We as carbon-based fools will spend our money empathizing and caring about silicon-based creations,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

Such reasoning can become textbook Greater Fool Theory — investors paying foolish prices with the expectation that greater fools than they will pay even higher prices.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 6, 2026

If there were an unofficial tagline that describes it best, it is that all men are knights, and all men are fools.

From Salon • Jan. 17, 2026

Singer was playing a game of fools with himself at the table.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers