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.

“This is not an April Fools joke,” Drift posted on social media on the day of the heist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

There are Manchester City shirts, boxing gloves, the odd can of Guinness, Only Fools and Horses memorabilia - Hatton was a huge fan and owned a three-wheeled van - and more tokens of appreciation.

From BBC • Oct. 9, 2025

There, he sold books with his friends at Camden market, like Del Boy from the comedy Only Fools and Horses.

From BBC • May 21, 2025

The Bacchanalian disorders of the Feast of the Fools and mockery of traditional hierarchies provoked a wave of censure by Church and secular leaders.

From Salon • Dec. 24, 2024

“Now Dr. Touch and the Sensations will play the traditional human song ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love.’”

From "Landscape with Invisible Hand" by M.T. Anderson