Word
foolishly
Phoneticsfool·ish·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfuɫɪʃɫi/
UK/fˈuːlɪʃli/
Definition
adv. in a way that shows you are not thinking clearly or making good choices. You use this when someone does something that is likely to cause problems or embarrassment.
adv. in a manner that demonstrates a lack of good judgment or wisdom. Often used to describe actions that lead to negative consequences or social disapproval.
Examples
“He spent all his money foolishly on a new car.”
“She foolishly ignored the weather warning and went for a long hike in the mountains during the storm.”
“The company foolishly expanded its operations too quickly without securing enough capital, leading to a financial collapse that took years to recover from.”
Examples
simple
“He spent all his money foolishly on a new car.”
contextual
“She foolishly ignored the weather warning and went for a long hike in the mountains during the storm.”
complex
“The company foolishly expanded its operations too quickly without securing enough capital, leading to a financial collapse that took years to recover from.”
Real-World Examples
“She said: “Anybody who imagines that now trying to slow pedal or backpedal or pretend that the future isn’t coming is foolish and is acting foolishly and irresponsibly.”
Robinson welcomed the Prime Minister’s remarks.” Etymology
From Middle English folysly, folysschly; equivalent to foolish + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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