she is foolish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she is foolish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone as lacking good sense or judgment. Example: "Despite her intelligence, she is foolish for trusting him so easily."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Emma Bovary haunted Tussy: "She is foolish, but there is a nobleness about her too.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Has she been foolish enough to offend a cameraman?

The New York Times

What about people who say she was foolish to be jogging in the park after dark?

The New York Times - Style

She was foolish about that particular piece of legislation, but, in the moment, he looked the bigger fool.

The New York Times

She argued that making coffee, photocopying articles and filing offered no real benefit for her – though her friends thought she was foolish to give up this opportunity.

The Guardian - Opinion

Well, she was foolish enough to accept a complimentary wash and go, and everyone knows nowt comes for free at Audrey's salon.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Leaning against the kitchen sink — to an audience of a 12-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy — Berenice solemnly describes the death of her first husband, the person who had made her happier than "any human woman," and how forever after she kept seeing "little pieces" of him in other men, some of whom she was foolish enough to marry.

The New York Times

The novelist wrote of his mother: "I knew she was foolish and irresponsible, that she talked too much, that she made crazy emotional scenes over nothing and could be counted on to collapse in a crisis, but I had come to suspect, dismally, that my own personality might be built along much the same lines".

The Guardian - Film

She realizes that she was foolish to reject Emile because of the race of his children's mother.

Wikipedia

She was foolish enough to contest his influence, and not to conform herself to the change in her position... If she had done so, and conciliated the P[rince], she might have remained in the Palace to the end of her life".

Wikipedia

"Individuals do". The notion that banning legally registered firearms will solve the country's violent crime problem is foolish, she says, but she may have a better plan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "she is foolish", consider the context and ensure the tone is appropriate. It can be perceived as critical, so use it judiciously to avoid causing offense.

Common error

Avoid using "she is foolish" in formal or professional settings where a more nuanced or diplomatic expression would be more suitable. Instead, opt for phrases like "she lacks experience" or "her judgment was questionable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she is foolish" functions as a subject-verb-complement construction, where "she" is the subject, "is" is the linking verb, and "foolish" is the subject complement describing the subject's characteristic. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "she is foolish" is a common expression used to describe someone lacking good sense or judgment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent appearance in various contexts. While generally acceptable, it's essential to consider the tone and appropriateness of the phrase, especially in formal settings, opting for more nuanced expressions when necessary. Consider alternatives like "she is unwise" or "she lacks good judgment" for a more diplomatic approach. Ludwig's analysis reveals its prevalence in news and media sources, emphasizing the importance of context in its usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she is unwise

Replaces "foolish" with "unwise", suggesting a lack of wisdom or prudence.

she is silly

Replaces "foolish" with "silly", implying a lack of seriousness or good sense.

she is imprudent

Replaces "foolish" with "imprudent", emphasizing a lack of foresight and caution.

she is daft

Replaces "foolish" with "daft", suggesting a mild form of foolishness or silliness.

she is idiotic

Replaces "foolish" with "idiotic", indicating extreme stupidity or lack of intelligence.

she is senseless

Replaces "foolish" with "senseless", highlighting a lack of reason or logic in her actions.

she lacks good judgment

This alternative emphasizes the absence of sound decision-making skills.

she is not very bright

This is an indirect way of saying that someone is not intelligent or makes poor decisions.

she made a foolish decision

Shifts the focus to a specific action, emphasizing the foolishness of the choice made.

she showed poor judgment

Focuses on the act of displaying poor judgment rather than labeling her as inherently foolish.

FAQs

What does "she is foolish" mean?

The phrase "she is foolish" means that someone lacks good sense, judgment, or intelligence. It implies that her actions or decisions are unwise or silly.

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

You can use alternatives like "she is unwise", "she is silly", or "she lacks good judgment" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to call someone "she is foolish"?

Calling someone "she is foolish" can be considered critical and potentially offensive. It's important to consider the context and your relationship with the person before using this phrase. In formal settings, it's best to use more diplomatic language.

What's the difference between "she is foolish" and "she is naive"?

"She is foolish" suggests a lack of good sense and judgment, while "she is naive" implies a lack of experience or worldly knowledge, leading to an overly trusting or idealistic perspective. Someone who is naive might be easily deceived, while someone who is foolish makes poor decisions even with available information.