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Foolish vs Idiot - What's the difference?

foolish | idiot |

As an adjective foolish

is lacking good sense or judgement; unwise.

As a noun idiot is

a person of low general intelligence.

foolish

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Lacking good sense or judgement; unwise.
  • :
  • *
  • *:As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish , but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could.
  • Resembling or characteristic of a fool.
  • :
  • *(Aeschylus)
  • *:It is a profitable thing, if one is wise, to seem foolish .
  • Synonyms

    * absurd * idiotic * ridiculous * silly * unwise

    Antonyms

    * wise

    Derived terms

    * foolishness

    idiot

    English

    Alternative forms

    * eejit * idjit, idget (eye dialect)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (pejorative) A person of low general intelligence.
  • usage note This may be used pejoratively, as an insult. It is a weak insult, however, and between close friends, family members, or lovers, is often completely nonaggressive.
  • (obsolete, medicine, psychology) A person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal four-year-old.
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * genius