as in fopperies
a foolish act or idea
writing a sequel to a Jane Austen novel must be regarded as a literary bêtise of the highest order
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bêtises
Noun
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Working with Chhaya clients who were facing foreclosure, Mamdani got an intimate look at the little insanities of the city’s housing crisis.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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An Italian Winter Olympics broadcaster who was on the mic for the opening ceremony before the Milan Cortina Games began last week faced immense backlash and a strike call for numerous blunders during the show.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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But that’s only because of the multiple strategic blunders from the summer that were Ctrl-Z’d in the swap.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Netflix's Bridgerton is a Regency-era series about the romantic follies of the noble Bridgerton family.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Feb. 2026
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Without these changes, Californians are probably headed for more fiscal follies in the years ahead.—
Lanhee J. Chen,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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His brand of humor is designed to create a bond with his audience by telling stories about — and lampooning — the absurdities of everyday life, not by hitting them over the head, figuratively or literally.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Amid these absurdities, Manuel coaxes out the cruelty of the resort’s hierarchies.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For the past four years, Honan has been a worm in Adams’s apple, scoring scoop after scoop about the dramas, inanities, and intrigues of his administration.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
21 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Bêtises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/b%C3%AAtises. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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