foolhardy

[fool-hahr-dee]

adjective

foolhardier, foolhardiest 

1. recklessly or thoughtlessly bold; foolishly rash or venturesome.

   Synonyms: incautious, heedless, headlong, impetuous

foolhardy

/ ˈfuːlˌhɑːdɪ /

adjective

1. heedlessly rash or adventurous

Other Word Forms

• foolhardily adverb
• foolhardiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of foolhardy¹

1175–1225; Middle English folhardy < Old French fol hardi. See fool ¹, hardy ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of foolhardy¹

C13: from Old French fol hardi , from fol foolish + hardi bold

Example Sentences

Or foolhardy when this is a moment when she ought to be mustering as much authority as she can?

From BBC

Some concluded it was foolhardy to even consider rebuilding in such a fire-prone place.

From Los Angeles Times

At noon, before government had heard back from Lord Mandelson, the prime minister gave a staunch public defence of him in a move that now looks foolhardy.

From BBC

So it would be foolhardy to say that substance abuse doesn’t play a significant role in homelessness, or to deny it makes moving people out of homelessness more difficult.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet another, who argues that it would be foolhardy to question whether Starmer will be the leader to take Labour into the next general election, nonetheless acknowledges the conversation is out there.

From BBC

Related Words

• adventurous 
• audacious 
• bold 
• daring 
• imprudent 
• irresponsible 
• reckless