FOOLHARDINESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does foolhardiness mean? 

• FOOLHARDINESS (noun)
  The noun FOOLHARDINESS has 1 sense:

1. the trait of giving little thought to danger

  Familiarity information: FOOLHARDINESS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FOOLHARDINESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The trait of giving little thought to danger

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

foolhardiness; rashness; recklessness

Hypernyms ("foolhardiness" is a kind of...):

thoughtlessness; unthoughtfulness (the trait of not thinking carefully before acting)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "foolhardiness"):

adventurism (recklessness in politics or foreign affairs)

brashness (the trait of being rash and hasty)

desperation (desperate recklessness)

Derivation:

foolhardy (marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences)

 Context examples 

The foolhardiness or ignorance of her officers was a prolific theme for comment whilst she remained in sight, and efforts were made to signal her to reduce sail in face of her danger.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Of course I said I would go with my mother, and of course they all cried out at our foolhardiness, but even then not a man would go along with us.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

How I cursed the cowardice of the neighbours; how I blamed my poor mother for her honesty and her greed, for her past foolhardiness and present weakness!

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)