as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
a zany plan to drive cross-country on a motorized scooter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in clown
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior
hired a zany to entertain the children at the birthday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits
one of the challenges of hosting a radio call-in program is preventing the zanies from completely taking over the discussion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of zany
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
No further details were unveiled but, as always, expect the most zany and dangerous stunts from the Jackass gang.
—
Anthony D'alessandro,
Deadline,
7 Jan. 2026
Emily Ratajkowski's interpretation of Marge Simpson from The Simpsons at Klum's 2015 Heidi Halloween was perfectly zany for the occasion.
—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
The younger characters – the Brown children and Gina – get pushed aside for their zanier elders, and their character development suffers as a result.
—
Troy Aidan Sambajon,
Christian Science Monitor,
13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zany
Adjective
The result is a zanier and livelier ride than the cloistered and predictable Harry’s House.
—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
No further details were unveiled but, as always, expect the most zany and dangerous stunts from the Jackass gang.
—
Anthony D'alessandro,
Deadline,
7 Jan. 2026
Emily Ratajkowski's interpretation of Marge Simpson from The Simpsons at Klum's 2015 Heidi Halloween was perfectly zany for the occasion.
—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
The younger characters – the Brown children and Gina – get pushed aside for their zanier elders, and their character development suffers as a result.
—
Troy Aidan Sambajon,
Christian Science Monitor,
13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zany
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zany
Adjective
-
Over the years, the visuals dramatically improve, from snuff film aesthetics to confidently silly splendor.
-
The Alexa smart assistant is as good as ever, with tons of useful and silly skills, along with deep integration for ordering items via Amazon.
Noun
-
The only leaders more buffoonish and lethal than the fairground hucksters elected in our failing democracies are the omnipotent clowns of tyranny.
-
Up until his first day of filming Jackass, Steve-O was a clown in nightclubs, cruise ships and at a flea-market circus.
Noun
-
With its loose ends and digressions, Dream Me a Dream stays true to those idiosyncratic instincts while retaining enough of the welcoming glow of Dance of Love to make this an affecting farewell from an endearing eccentric.
-
The eccentric cuz is quick to try and help Bobby solve problems, which often gets him into trouble, but ultimately pushes him out of his shell.
Adjective
-
But even the most perfect Constitution can be undone by the wicked with the help of the bought, the stupid, and the cowardly.
-
White can believe Hokit said something stupid and still believe fighters should be allowed to speak for themselves.
Noun
-
For the event, Kaling donned a strapless Elie Saab gown covered in crystal embroidery, which included a harlequin pattern and a sheer skirt.
-
Colman Domingo wore a colorful custom Valentino look based on the house's harlequin motif.
Noun
-
There was a small card with a graphic that pictured Wiley walking in the middle of Bluey and Bingo, two characters from the show.
-
Her refusal to sugarcoat the interior and exterior lives of her characters, whether enslaved or traumatized by the past — by events in American history — was purposeful.
Adjective
-
The 41-year-old is still an elite NBA player, which is still an absurd reality to consider.
-
The thesis rests on a claim that would have sounded absurd a year ago.
Noun
-
Many audiences may recognize him best as the shirtless, nunchuck-wielding oddball in the coming-of-age classic Ghost World (2001).
-
Black Rock Coalition bands like funk-metal group 24-7 Spyz and shoegaze oddballs the Veldt—particularly when the Veldt’s murkiness resolves into a major-key chorus.
Cite this Entry
“Zany.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zany. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
