harebrained

adjective

hare·​brained ˈher-ˈbrānd How to pronounce harebrained (audio)

Examples of harebrained in a Sentence

the movie follows the harebrained antics of a pair of stoners who seem incapable of growing up a harebrained idea to go for a hike in an area where grizzly bear attacks had recently been reported
Recent Examples on the Web In the first season, Lance is Brooke’s loser boyfriend, who is always pitching harebrained ideas for custom sneakers. Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 9 June 2023 Only the steeliest of investors would dare become an entrepreneur in this economy; wannabe investors cling on to solid careers rather than risk it all for some harebrained cash grab. Robert Stevens, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2022 Climate policy is not some kind of utopian lefty scheme put forward by harebrained hippies; it's meant to deal with a screaming emergency that threatens all humanity, very much including Americans. Ryan Cooper, The Week, 11 June 2021 On the wholesome 1990s sitcom, Diamond embodied the ultimate yes-man sidekick who executed preppy Zack Morris’ most harebrained ideas. Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2021 After talking to friends, chefs, historians, at least one architect, pasta manufacturers and his team, Pashman’s pasta project eventually went from harebrained hobby to its current status as an actual product anyone in the U.S. can purchase and eat. Washington Post, 27 May 2021 One possibility being floated by conservatives is a particularly harebrained scheme to undermine Social Security, in the guise of helping people get through the crisis. Ryan Cooper, TheWeek, 11 May 2020 Despite its weighty emotional toll, the new album wouldn’t be a true Thundercat project without Bruner’s kaleidoscopic musical style and propensity for pairing morbidly serious topics with harebrained humor. Alex Suskind, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2020 Financing ostensibly harebrained schemes is an Affeldt specialty. Susan Spano, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'harebrained.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of harebrained was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near harebrained

Cite this Entry

“Harebrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harebrained. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

harebrained

adjective
hare·​brained -ˈbrānd How to pronounce harebrained (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on harebrained

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!