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# foolish

adjective (foolish, more foolish, most foolish); adverb foolishly

«foolish» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Foolish means silly or not sensible; showing poor judgement. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foolish/#m1)
2. To feel foolish is to feel silly or embarrassed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foolish/#m2)
3. To look foolish is to seem stupid to others. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foolish/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories and fables, foolish characters make bad choices and learn lessons. In safety talks, it is foolish to take risks like swimming alone. It is a softer word than «stupid». Phrases: a foolish mistake, feel foolish, it would be foolish to.

### Examples

- It was foolish to leave your bike unlocked. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foolish/#x1)
- I felt foolish when I fell over in front of everyone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foolish/#x2)
- The foolish crow dropped its cheese. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foolish/#x3)
- Don't do anything foolish, like climbing on the roof. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foolish/#x4)
- He foolishly spent all his pocket money in one day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foolish/#x5)
- It would be foolish to swim in a rough sea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foolish/#x6)
- The king made a foolish promise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foolish/#x7)
- "Ah, you foolish fellows!" he cried. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foolish/#x8)

### Note

Comparison usually «more foolish», «most foolish». Noun: fool, foolishness. «Foolish» is milder and more polite than «stupid» or «idiotic», but it can still hurt.

## In Jewish tradition

It is used of the people that forgets God.

**Interpretation.** Moses' song calls Israel "foolish people and unwise" for repaying God's kindness with wrong. Tradition reads this as a call to remember God's gifts.

### Examples

- Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not He thy father that hath gotten thee? hath He not made thee, and established thee? (Torah DEU.32.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/foolish/#x1)
- For anger killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. (Writings JOB.5.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/foolish/#x2)
- I have seen the foolish taking root; but suddenly I beheld his habitation cursed. (Writings JOB.5.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/foolish/#x3)
- A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish man despiseth his mother. (Writings PRO.15.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/foolish/#x4)

### Note

Comparison usually «more foolish», «most foolish». Noun: fool, foolishness. «Foolish» is milder and more polite than «stupid» or «idiotic», but it can still hurt.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «foolish» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/foolish/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«foolish» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/foolish.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «foolish» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/foolish/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«foolish» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/foolish.html) on Mova free.