Fatuousnesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of being foolish or silly, often in a smug or self-satisfied manner
2. A state of exhibiting an absurd lack of intelligence or sense, particularly in an exaggerated way
3. A condition characterized by an extreme degree of mindlessness or imprudence, often coupled with complacency

Etymology: "Fatuousnesses" is simply the plural of "fatuousness," a noun that reached English by adding the suffix "-ness" to the adjective "fatuous." That suffix has an old pedigree: it descends from Old English "-nes," which turned adjectives into nouns of state or quality, and its roots run back to Proto-Germanic and beyond. Attaching it to "fatuous" produces a noun meaning the quality of being foolish without sense. The plural form is the more unusual part. Abstract nouns like "fatuousness" are rarely pluralised, because they name a quality rather than countable things. Speakers reach for the plural when they want to treat separate instances of silliness as individual items, as in a sentence listing several distinct displays of pointless foolishness.

Synonyms: foolishness, stupidity, insipidity, vacuity, inanity

Antonyms: wisdom, intelligence, insight, cleverness, sagacity