Definition

Adjective: 1. Very foolish; rash or impractical: Describes a person, idea, or plan that is extremely silly, lacking in common sense, or not carefully thought out. 2. Flighty or scatterbrained: Suggests a person who is frivolous or lacks seriousness and focus.

Usage

The adjective "harebrained" is used to criticize an idea or action as being recklessly foolish or wildly impractical. It often implies a lack of forethought and a disregard for logic or consequences. It is typically placed before a noun (e.g., a harebrained scheme) or used after a linking verb (e.g., The plan was harebrained).

Examples

• Before a noun:
  • He lost all his money on a harebrained investment scheme.
  • She came up with a harebrained plan to sneak into the concert.
• After a linking verb:
  • The proposal sounded completely harebrained to the committee.
  • I'm not going along with this; it's harebrained and dangerous.

Advanced Usage

• The term originates from the perceived flighty or skittish behavior of a hare, suggesting a mind that jumps from one thought to another without depth or seriousness.
• It is often used in a tone of exasperation or dismissal when describing impractical ideas.

Variants and Related Words

• Hare-brained: An alternative, hyphenated spelling. Both "harebrained" and "hare-brained" are correct.
• Harebrain (noun, informal): A foolish or scatterbrained person.
  • Don't listen to him; he's a total harebrain.

Synonyms

• Foolish
• Absurd
• Preposterous
• Asinine
• Impractical
• Half-baked
• Crackpot (informal)

Antonyms

• Sensible
• Prudent
• Practical
• Judicious
• Well-conceived

Idioms and Common Phrases

• A harebrained scheme: This is the most common collocation, emphasizing a plan that is foolish and unlikely to succeed.
  • The movie is about two friends who get rich from a harebrained scheme.

Adjective

1. very foolish
   • harebrained ideas
   • took insane risks behind the wheel
   • a completely mad scheme to build a bridge between two mountains