fool with
phrasal verb
fooled with; fooling with; fools with
informal
1
: to handle or play with (something) in a careless way
Don't fool with that gun.
2
: to deal with or be involved with (something that causes or that could cause trouble)
The company doesn't want to fool with small distributors.
3
: to deal with (someone) in a way that may cause anger or violence
I wouldn't want to fool with that guy.
Examples of fool with in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Is that a genuine quotation, however, or is Lang merely fooling with us?
—
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Democrats are welcoming the red-nosed fools with open arms.
—David Mastio, Twin Cities, 17 July 2025
On top guests can choose from biscuits or shortbread flavored with lemon and lavender, mini cuppa-cakes and fresh lemon possets or lemon fools with organic blueberries.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Are these victims really just hapless fools with no idea they’re being duped into caring for alien eggs and hatchlings?
—Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Few politicians want to fool with anyone’s Social Security benefits.
—David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 17 Mar. 2025
So thank you to Teeny for being bold enough and brave enough to risk looking the fool with all their pronouncements.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2024
But if Jon Snow were to show up wearing a jetpack and blasting fools with a plasma rifle, that would be implausible—even within a fantasy setting (or perhaps especially within that setting).
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
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Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Democrats are welcoming the red-nosed fools with open arms.
—David Mastio, Twin Cities, 17 July 2025
On top guests can choose from biscuits or shortbread flavored with lemon and lavender, mini cuppa-cakes and fresh lemon possets or lemon fools with organic blueberries.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Are these victims really just hapless fools with no idea they’re being duped into caring for alien eggs and hatchlings?
—Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Few politicians want to fool with anyone’s Social Security benefits.
—David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 17 Mar. 2025
So thank you to Teeny for being bold enough and brave enough to risk looking the fool with all their pronouncements.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2024
But if Jon Snow were to show up wearing a jetpack and blasting fools with a plasma rifle, that would be implausible—even within a fantasy setting (or perhaps especially within that setting).
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Fool with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fool%20with. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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