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DictionaryfatuousFoolish
adjective

fatuous

FACH-oo-us/ˈfætʃuəs/

Foolish and lacking good judgment.

The tiny umbrella is a fatuous attempt to protect the entire picnic table.

Adult smugly presents a tiny umbrella over a whole outdoor picnic table during rain, pointlessly inadequate plan, amused companions.
Etymology
fatuousLatinfoolish, insipid, silly

Latin fatuus already expressed a dismissive judgment of foolishness or insipidity. That judgment remains central when English fatuous describes smug or pointless silliness; the Latin word’s deeper origin is uncertain.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain287:57
he talked the most fatuous nonsense certainly but in a disconcerting way he didn't dig into a joke and get all the fun out of it
1920s Mystery Audiobook • Dorothy L. Sayers - Whose Body?

More examples

  • She dismisses his fatuous suggestion that they simply ignore the bills.
  • The candidate makes a fatuous promise to please everyone.
  • It seems fatuous to celebrate before we know the results.

Forms

fatuous

fatuity noun — Foolishness or a lack of good judgment.

fatuously adverb — In a foolish, poorly judged manner.

Similar words

foolish
Broader term for actions or ideas lacking good sense.
silly
Often suggests harmless absurdity rather than seriously poor judgment.
inane
Emphasizes emptiness or lack of substance rather than judgment.