Definitions

fool's errand

NOUN

practical joke

Synonyms

STRONGEST

prank

WEAK

antic caper escapade espieglerie frolic gag high jinks mischievous trick monkeyshines shenanigans stunt tomfoolery trick

NOUN

red herring

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ploy smokescreen

WEAK

attention-grabber bait commotion curve ball deviation distraction distractor disturbance diversion diversionary tactic false clue false face false trail gimmick interruption maneuver wild-goose chase

NOUN

wild-goose chase

Synonyms

WEAK

bootless errand lost cause merry chase red herring snipe hunt vain attempt waste of time wasted effort wasted labor

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

According to history, betting against Microsoft’s stock over the longer term has been a fool’s errand.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

Trying to assign an exact reason to Bitcoin’s collapse can be a fool’s errand, but one risk increasingly cited by short sellers is the rise of quantum computing, S3 said.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

Trying to explain journalistic ethics to a lifelong criminal was probably a fool’s errand, but I still tried.

From Slate • Dec. 1, 2025

Teasing out the plot’s tangled threads and expecting each to adhere to logic is a fool’s errand, yet what viewer will insist this type of picture have an airtight story?

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

A rising sense that I was on a fool’s errand.

From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk

fool's errand

Example Sentences

Related Words