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

Yet of course, like fools, once again we tried.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

That may have been outré to a middle and high-schooler trying to be cool, but at some point post-college, the Chili Peppers became synonymous with sweaty fools passing out in strip mall parking lots.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Supposed experts have been made to look like fools.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

This was shrewd of him: Danny and Vinny never stopped worrying if they were the fools at Lippmann’s table.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis