folly
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,141 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 8,256 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- the trait of acting stupidly or rashly also: foolishness, unwiseness
- a stupid mistake also: stupidity, betise, foolishness, imbecility
- the quality of being rash and foolish also: foolishness, craziness, madness trying to drive through a blizzard is the height of follyadjusting to an insane society is total foolishness
- foolish or senseless behavior also: foolery, tomfoolery, craziness, lunacy, indulgence
folly in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
-
But my desire was as vain as my folly in making.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures · Daniel Defoe · Chapter 1
-
He chargeth His angels with folly; He sees The heavens unclean.
Pennsylvania Pilgrim, and other poems Part 6 From — Volume I · John Greenleaf Whittier · Chapter 1
-
Grief aids Disease, remember'd Folly stings, And his last Sighs reproach the Faith of Kings.
The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749) and Two · Samuel Johnson · Chapter 1
-
It is doubtful if so much folly and conceit could now interest many people for any length of time.
The Olden Time Series, Vol. 6 · Henry M. (Henry Mason) Brooks · Chapter 1
-
Feigned acceptance when I asked, Lovely words with cunning masked, Holy vows but heart unholy; Wretched man, my trust was folly!
Elizabethan Sonnet Cycles: Phillis - Licia · Martha Foote [Editor] Crow · Chapter 1