he is foolish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he is foolish" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who acts unwisely or lacks good judgment. Example: "Despite his intelligence, he is foolish for not considering the consequences of his actions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"We forgive Muhammad Ali his excesses," an Ali biographer, Dave Kindred, wrote, "because we see in him the child in us, and if he is foolish or cruel, if he is arrogant, if he is outrageously in love with his reflection, we forgive him because we no more can condemn him than condemn a rainbow for dissolving into the dark.

The New York Times - Sports

He is foolish to assert cold fusion excess heat would require the experimenters be killed by massive radiation.

Forbes

He is foolish, arrogant, immature, and quite frankly absurd.

Huffington Post

He is as shrewd as he is foolish.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He was foolish to do so.

The Economist

He was foolish, but he did not deserve to be reduced to his Social Security check.

The New Yorker

Del Zotto called the second penalty "stupid," meaning he was foolish, not the officials.

The New York Times - Sports

But, whatever else could be said about him, he was foolish, solipsistic, and self-satisfied.

The New Yorker

Some of Borden's friends suggested that he was foolish and weak to stand by me.

The New Yorker

Someone told him recently that he was foolish to make such good rulers.

The New Yorker

"By any view, he was foolish to do what he did," said Robert Smith QC, appearing for the director of public prosecutions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he is foolish", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific actions or decisions that demonstrate his lack of good judgment. Provide specific examples to support your assertion.

Common error

Avoid using "he is foolish" as a general insult without providing concrete examples or reasoning. This can come across as harsh or unfounded. Instead, support your statement with clear evidence of his unwise actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he is foolish" functions as a predicative adjective phrase, where "foolish" describes the subject "he". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is used to attribute a characteristic of lacking good judgement or wisdom to someone.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he is foolish" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe someone lacking good judgement. As Ludwig AI states, it's perfectly correct for conveying an opinion or criticism. While relatively uncommon, it appears primarily in News & Media contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of providing supporting evidence and considering less direct alternatives for formal settings. The key is to ensure the context justifies the judgement being made and to avoid using it as a mere insult.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he lacks wisdom

Directly states the absence of wisdom.

he's being unwise

Focuses on the act of being unwise at the moment.

he shows poor judgement

Emphasizes the flawed decision-making process.

he's acting imprudently

Emphasizes the lack of carefulness in his actions.

he's not very bright

Suggests a lack of intelligence or understanding.

he's lacking sense

Highlights the absence of good judgment or common sense.

he is short-sighted

Focuses on a lack of planning for the future.

he's a simpleton

Indicates a person is naive or unsophisticated.

he's a blockhead

Implies someone is particularly stupid or stubborn.

he's an idiot

A more blunt and offensive way of saying someone is foolish.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "he is foolish"?

You can use alternatives like "he is unwise", "he lacks wisdom", or "he is short-sighted" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to say "he is foolish" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "he is foolish" can sound somewhat harsh. In formal writing, consider using more nuanced and less direct alternatives like "he demonstrates poor judgment" or "his actions are imprudent".

What is the difference between "he is foolish" and "he is stupid"?

"Foolish" implies a lack of wisdom or good judgment, often due to a temporary lapse in thinking. "Stupid" suggests a more general lack of intelligence. Saying "he is stupid" is typically more offensive.

How to use "he is foolish" in a sentence?

You can use "he is foolish" to describe someone who consistently makes unwise decisions. For example, "He continues to invest in risky ventures; he is foolish to ignore the advice of his financial advisor."