befools
Makes look foolish
Befools is a literary or archaic verb meaning to make a fool of someone, to deceive or delude them.
The word appears mainly in older texts: He befools himself who thinks wealth brings happiness.
Modern speakers would typically say "fools" or "deceives" instead.
Deceives or victims
- misleadsCauses false belief
- hoodwinksDeceives through trickery
- bamboozlesDeceives or tricks
- deludesTricks into false belief
tricks · gulls · beguiles · fools · outwits · snookers · takes in · leads astray
Deliberate deception for effect
- ruseDeliberate act of deception
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
sham · ploy · con · scam · chicanery · duplicity · guile · wile
Subjects to contemptuous laughter
- humiliatesCauses painful embarrassment
- embarrassesCauses social discomfort
- belittlesDiminishes someone's worth
- deridesExpresses contemptuous mockery
taunts · jeers · scorns · lampoons · satirizes · parodies · caricatures · sends up
dupes
Deceives or victims
- misleadsCauses false belief
- hoodwinksDeceives through trickery
- bamboozlesDeceives or tricks
deludes · tricks · gulls · beguiles · fools · outwits · snookers · takes in · leads astray · humbugs
hoax
Deliberate deception for effect
- ruseDeliberate act of deception
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
artifice · sham · ploy · con · scam · chicanery · duplicity · guile · wile · stratagem
ridicules
Subjects to contemptuous laughter
- humiliatesCauses painful embarrassment
- embarrassesCauses social discomfort
- belittlesDiminishes someone's worth
derides · taunts · jeers · scorns · lampoons · satirizes · parodies · caricatures · sends up · roasts
befoolsenlightens
Imparts knowledge or insight
disabuses · informs · levels with · sets straight · corrects
befoolsenlightens
Imparts knowledge or insight
illuminates · edifies · educates · awakens · instructs