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foolishly

B2
adverb

Pronunciation

UK

  • /fˈuːlɪʃli/

US

  • /ˈfulɪʃli/

Description

To act foolishly means to do something unwise or to show poor judgment. It is not just about making a small mistake. It usually suggests that the person should have been more careful or should have thought longer before acting. Imagine a character in a story who trusts a villain even after many warning signs. That person is acting without thinking things through properly.

The word often carries a gentle note of blame, like someone saying, "You really should not have done that." You might spend all your money on candy instead of saving for something important. Or you might believe everything you read online. It often suggests a lack of common sense or a failure to think ahead.

Examples

  1. 1

    Travel mistake

    He foolishly left his passport in the taxi.

  2. 2

    Money decision

    I foolishly agreed to lend him more money.

  3. 3

    Angry words

    She spoke foolishly in anger and regretted it later.

  4. 4

    Bad investment

    They had invested foolishly and lost most of their savings.

  5. 5

    Unrealistic optimism

    It would be foolishly optimistic to expect a full recovery by next week.

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • foolishlyadverb