harebrained

American  

[hair-breynd] / ˈhɛərˌbreɪnd /

Or hairbrained

adjective

1. giddy; reckless.

   Synonyms:

   dimwitted, half-baked, scatterbrained, rattlebrained

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harebrained British  

/ ˈhɛəˌbreɪnd /

adjective

1. rash, foolish, or badly thought out

   harebrained schemes

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Other Word Forms

• harebrainedly
  adverb
• harebrainedness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of harebrained

First recorded in 1545–55; hare + brained

Explanation

Something that's harebrained is reckless or foolish. Sometimes, harebrained ideas work out just fine — several people have survived trips over Niagara Falls in a barrel, for example. If you have what you think is a great idea, but someone else calls it a harebrained scheme, it means they think you'd be a fool to try it. For example, your harebrained plan to ride your bike on the highway is bound to get you in trouble. The 16th century harebrained came from the earlier harebrain, "giddy or reckless person," from the common impression of a rabbit or a hare as being nervous and skittish.

Example Sentences

“It was the most harebrained operation I’d seen in my 38 years with the U.S. government,” Nagy said, referring to the methods used this year.

From Salon • Dec. 16, 2025

“That’s the stupidest, dumbest, most harebrained scheme I’ve heard in my life,” a farmer complained to a government official in one scene, a sentiment studio executives echoed as they rejected Carter’s project as too far-fetched.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2025

They seeded suspicion and harebrained ideas of alternative cures, some toxic.

From Slate • Nov. 7, 2024

As if amid some harebrained sitcom, the following two guys wound up rooming together as basketball teammates: a 17-year-old about to turn 18 and a 26-year-old about to turn 27.

From Washington Post • Mar. 30, 2023

It was harebrained to think I would marry anytime soon, even if I did hit it off with somebody.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu