foolishly

comparative more foolishly · superlative most foolishly

1. In a foolish manner.

   He dressed foolishly to entertain the children.

   3 more examples

   I never wish to offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I am only kept back by my natural aukwardness.

   1811, [Jane Austen], chapter XVII, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume I, London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 220

   “Nothing to speak of,” said Adam Woodcock, answering for the boy—“a foolish quarrel with me, which was more foolishly told over again to my honoured lady, cost the poor boy his place.[…]”

   1820, [Walter Scott], chapter XV, in The Abbot. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne & Co.] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and for Archibald Constable and Company, and John Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, pages 329–330

   What, is it daylight?’ he said, staring foolishly about. ‘No, it’s starlight, blokey,’ Snowy said, patting him on the head.

   1911, ‘Steel Rudd’, The Book of Dan, Brisbane: University of Queensland Press, published 1970, page 26

2. Without good judgment.

   Foolishly, he had decided that, because a home was the best investment, two homes were even better.

   1 more example

   Now Mr. Bush plans to pour more arms into this unstable region and add fuel to the volatile powderkeg he has foolishly created.

   2007 August 1, “Unwise Arms Deal With Saudi Arabia (2 Letters)”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2022