nutty

adjective

nut·​ty ˈnə-tē 

nuttier; nuttiest

1

: having or producing nuts

nutty trees

2

: having a flavor like that of nuts

a nutty sauce

3

: eccentric, silly

a nutty professor

nutty ideas

also, sometimes offensive : mentally unsound

nuttily

ˈnə-tə-lē 

adverb

… the movie is so nuttily untethered to any semblance of reality that it's almost enjoyable.

—Elisabeth Vincentelli

nuttiness noun

The menu includes dishes like a rich pecan soup whose nuttiness is offset by chipotle chilies and tomatoes.

—Matt Lee et al.

It's not just Marlon Brando's nuttiness that makes this special—it's the gusto with which he wallows in his own nuttiness.

—Karen Schoemer

Synonyms of nutty

• silly
• stupid
• insane
• crazy
• foolish
• absurd
• mad
• idiotic
• lunatic
• irrational
• loony
• zany
• wacky

Examples of nutty in a Sentence

candy with a nutty taste

the only other prisoner in the dungeon was a nutty soul who feasted on bugs

Recent Examples on the Web

All the data equate to a bread-and-butter moment of outsize pleasure — salty, melty, nutty-malty, crunchy, porridge-y pleasure. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

The amber gourmand pairs the deep, almost caramel-like sweetness of dates with creamy vanilla and milky notes, while praline adds warm, nutty richness. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026

Simultaneous with those frequent updates, Diamantis continue to peddle a nutty, convoluted conspiracy theory on his conviction. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026

The drink program is small but intentional, anchored by 100% organic ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from Japan that's whisked to order and lattes that lean into roasted, nutty flavors. — Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for nutty

• cutty
• putty

Kids Definition

nutty

adjective

nut·​ty ˈnət-ē 

nuttier; nuttiest

1

: containing or suggesting nuts (as in flavor)

2

: not showing good sense

also, sometimes offensive : mentally unbalanced

nuttiness noun