fool
Gullible, unwise person
A fool is a person who lacks good sense or judgment.
To call someone a fool is to say they've acted stupidly: Don't be a fool—take the money.
The verb means to trick or deceive: You can't fool me.
To fool around is to waste time or, sometimes, to engage in casual sexual activity.
Fool's gold looks valuable but isn't.
A court fool or jester entertained royalty, so fool can suggest playful absurdity rather than genuine stupidity.
Royal household comedian
- clownComedic performer in makeup
- harlequinMasked comic servant character
- motleyVaried, incongruous mixture
- cap and bellsJester's traditional headwear
entertainer · trickster · prankster · merrymaker · comic · joker · wag · wit
Foolish, senseless person
- dimwitFoolish, slow person
- dunceSlow-witted person
- halfwitFoolish, slow-minded person
- nitwitFoolish, silly person
blockhead · dolt · ignoramus · numbskull · bonehead · nincompoop · dullard · oaf
Deliberate deception
- dupeDeceive or victim
- conArgument against
- hoodwinkTrick into false belief
- bamboozleDeceive through cunning
swindle · mislead · beguile · delude · hoax · gull · cozen · scam
Humorous statement seeking laughter
clown around · goof · horse around · play · prank · jape · lark · spoof
jester
Royal household comedian
- clownComedic performer in makeup
- harlequinMasked comic servant character
- motleyVaried, incongruous mixture
cap and bells · entertainer · trickster · prankster · merrymaker · comic · joker · wag · wit · coxcomb
idiot
Foolish, senseless person
nitwit · blockhead · dolt · ignoramus · numbskull · bonehead · nincompoop · dullard · oaf · simpleton
trick
Deliberate deception
bamboozle · swindle · mislead · beguile · delude · hoax · gull · cozen · scam · bluff
joke
Humorous statement seeking laughter
banter · clown around · goof · horse around · play · prank · jape · lark · spoof · mock
gullible
Easily deceived
patsy · mark · pigeon · chump · sap · fall guy · easy mark · stooge · victim · pushover
foolgenius
Person of rare brilliance
sage · savant · intellectual · mastermind · brain
foolwise man
Person of great insight
sage · wise woman · philosopher · savant · Solomon
- fooling aroundIdle playful behavior
- fool aroundAct without purpose
- fooled aroundActed without serious intent
- fool's errandHopeless, pointless task
- April Fools' DayHoliday for practical jokes
- make a fool out ofCause someone public humiliation
foolish, fooled, fools, fooling, buffoon, foolishness, foolishly, foolery, buffoonery