What does foolhardy mean?
Word: Foolhardy
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Foolhardy means bold in a way that ignores clear risks, so that it is more silly than brave.
Synonyms: reckless, rash
Antonyms: cautious, sensible
How do you spell foolhardy?
Syllables: fool - har - dy
Tricky part: Many pupils hear the end of this word as hearty, as in a hearty breakfast, and write foolhearty.
Watch out for: foolhearty, foolhardey
Memory tip: There is no heart in a foolhardy plan: where hearty has an e and a t, this word has neither.
Foolhardy in a sentence
Example 1: It would be foolhardy to set off up the mountain without checking the weather.
Example 2: Cycling home in the dark without lights would be foolhardy, so Dad came to fetch us.
Example 3: Learning the whole play the night before the show was a foolhardy plan.
Fun Fact
Foolhardy came into English from Old French in the Middle Ages, and it has kept the same meaning, bold in a silly way, ever since.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word foolhardy as used in the sentence:
It was foolhardy of Tara to begin the long trek in brand-new boots with no water bottle.
a) careless
b) daring
c) prudent
d) impulsive
Show answer
c) prudent. A prudent person weighs up the risks first, which is the reverse of what Tara did.
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt one:
1. impetuous 2. temerity 3. audacous 4. foolhardy
a) too much confidence, shown in a rude way
b) willing to take bold risks
c) taking silly chances when the danger is plain to see
d) acting quickly without stopping to think
Show answer
b) willing to take bold risks. Audacious has an i before its -ous ending, which audacous has lost.
Word Makeup
Three of these compound words are spelt correctly. Choose the misspelt one:
a) headstrong
b) bookkeeper
c) fullhardy
d) breakthrough
Show answer
c) fullhardy. The first part is fool, a silly person, not full.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A friend calls your plan foolhardy. What is the friend most likely suggesting?
a) that it is too dull to be worth trying
b) that it needs far more people to help
c) that it will cost a great deal of money
d) that it takes a risk nobody needs to take
Show answer
d) that it takes a risk nobody needs to take
2. In which situation would foolhardy be the right word?
a) packing an umbrella when clouds gather
b) tidying a shelf before the guests arrive
c) climbing a wobbly ladder with both hands full
d) reading the rules before a board game
Show answer
c) climbing a wobbly ladder with both hands full
