pound-foolish
adjective
pound-fool·ish
ˈpau̇n(d)-ˈfü-lish 
: imprudent in dealing with large sums or large matters
Examples of pound-foolish in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cutting these services is the very definition of being penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—
Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
6 May 2026
That led to the penny-wise, pound-foolish path of appeasement.
—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Undermining Bayh-Dole to scrape together a billion or two in revenue would be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—
Sally Pipes,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Having these tenants lose their apartments and become homeless is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2024
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Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
6 May 2026
That led to the penny-wise, pound-foolish path of appeasement.
—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Undermining Bayh-Dole to scrape together a billion or two in revenue would be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—
Sally Pipes,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Having these tenants lose their apartments and become homeless is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Pound-foolish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pound-foolish. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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