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Definitions

fool's errand

NOUN
practical joke
Synonyms
STRONGEST
prank
WEAK
antic caper escapade espieglerie frolic gag high jinks mischievous trick monkeyshines shenanigans stunt tomfoolery trick
NOUN
red herring
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ploy smokescreen
WEAK
attention-grabber bait commotion curve ball deviation distraction distractor disturbance diversion diversionary tactic false clue false face false trail gimmick interruption maneuver wild-goose chase
NOUN
wild-goose chase
Synonyms
WEAK
bootless errand lost cause merry chase red herring snipe hunt vain attempt waste of time wasted effort wasted labor

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.

According to history, betting against Microsoft’s stock over the longer term has been a fool’s errand.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

Trying to assign an exact reason to Bitcoin’s collapse can be a fool’s errand, but one risk increasingly cited by short sellers is the rise of quantum computing, S3 said.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

Trying to explain journalistic ethics to a lifelong criminal was probably a fool’s errand, but I still tried.

From Slate • Dec. 1, 2025

Teasing out the plot’s tangled threads and expecting each to adhere to logic is a fool’s errand, yet what viewer will insist this type of picture have an airtight story?

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

Mom always planted a row of corn even though that was a bit of a fool’s errand.

From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon