Cautious and Foolish

Opposite meaning words

Cautious adjective - Having or showing a close attentiveness to avoiding danger or trouble.

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Foolish is an antonym for cautious in careful topic.

Nearby Words: caution, cautiously

Foolish adjective - Showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment.

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Cautious is an antonym for foolish in topics: unwise, nonsensical.

Nearby Words: fool, foolishness, foolery, foolishly

While the traditional saying is "penny wise pound foolish", it is possible for one to be cautious with large amounts but fritter away small amounts many times, such that at the end of the month you're wondering where your money went.

Source: Death of a Thousand Cuts aka: Death By A Thousand Cuts

Cite this Source

Foolish and Cautious. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cautious/foolish

Cautious & Foolish. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cautious/foolish>.

Foolish or Cautious. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cautious/foolish.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cautious" and "foolish" have occurred on timeline