Synonyms of zany

zany 1 of 2

adjective

ˈzā-nē 

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

• silly
• absurd
• stupid
• foolish
• crazy
• mad
• insane
• idiotic
• lunatic
• whacky
• wacky
• irrational
• looney
• kooky
• ridiculous
• simple
• nonsensical
• nutty
• loony
• dumb
• screwball
• daffy
• idiotical
• dippy
• preposterous
• fatuous
• asinine
• fool
• harebrained
• daft
• dotty
• witless
• sappy
• inept
• jerky
• unwise
• cuckoo
• weak
• unreasonable
• simpleminded
• brainless
• out to lunch
• crackpot
• cockeyed
• slow
• kookie
• senseless
• unreasoning
• balmy
• weak-minded
• half-baked
• moronic
• lunkheaded
• bubbleheaded
• tomfool
• half-witted
• imbecilic
• dopey
• illogical
• thoughtless
• featherheaded
• dense
• doltish
• clueless
• obtuse
• vacuous
• dorky
• ludicrous
• dull
• unreasoned
• unintelligent
• farcical
• mindless
• imbecile
• oafish
• dunderheaded
• opaque
• feebleminded
• dim
• brain-dead
• lamebrain
• pinheaded
• thickheaded
• dopy
• thick
• laughable
• softheaded
• fallacious
• clownish
• soft
• invalid
• nonrational
• lamebrained
• dim-witted
• knuckleheaded
• unsound
• surd
• empty-headed
• gormless
• airheaded
• buffoonish
• chuckleheaded
• notional
• slow-witted
• ill-advised
• birdbrained
• boobish
• chowderheaded
• unconsidered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sound
• wise
• sensible
• sane
• prudent
• judicious
• clever
• intelligent
• bright
• reasonable
• smart
• logical
• sagacious
• rational
• valid
• sage
• brainy
• sapient
• well-advised

zany

2 of 2

noun

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

• clown
• harlequin
• buffoon
• comedian
• buffo
• madcap
• mime
• comic
• joker
• wit
• antic
• motley
• droll
• cutup
• jester
• gracioso
• jokester
• fool
• humorist
• comedienne
• pantaloon
• funnyman
• mimic
• farceur
• stand-up
• wag
• scaramouche
• second banana
• top banana
• gagman
• mummer
• gagger
• scaramouch
• gagster
• merry-andrew

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

• eccentric
• character
• oddball
• original
• screwball
• weirdo
• crackpot
• crank
• piece of work
• kook
• oddity
• maverick
• codger
• bohemian
• nut
• fruitcake
• rarity
• flake
• nutcase
• odd duck
• quiz
• freak
• nutter
• head case
• crack
• crackbrain
• nonconformist
• coot
• geezer
• curio
• quixote
• fantast
• fantastico

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sheep
• follower
• conformist
• conformer

Examples of zany in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Lazy Susan Lazy Susan is renowned for her zany sense of humor and kooky drag aesthetic. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024

Jane Curtin Jane Curtin starred on SNL for five seasons, often playing the straight woman to the zany characters around her. —EW.com, 5 Oct. 2024

The original pioneers were mostly busy making non-hyperpop or gone: SOPHIE tragically died in 2021; 100 gecs spent years toiling to make their zany stadium-rock second album. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Oct. 2024

The steps seem to be relatively logical, except for the zany step 3. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024

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