craze

1 of 2

verb

crazed; crazing; crazes

transitive verb

1
sometimes offensive : to make insane or as if insane
crazed by pain and fear
a crazed mob
2
: to produce minute cracks on the surface or glaze of
crazed glass
crazed pottery
3
obsolete : break, shatter

intransitive verb

1
sometimes offensive : to become insane
2
: to develop a mesh of fine cracks
3
archaic : shatter, break

craze

2 of 2

noun

1
: an exaggerated and often transient enthusiasm : mania
the latest craze in music
2
: a crack in a surface or coating (as of glaze or enamel)
Choose the Right Synonym for craze

fashion, style, mode, vogue, fad, rage, craze mean the usage accepted by those who want to be up-to-date.

fashion is the most general term and applies to any way of dressing, behaving, writing, or performing that is favored at any one time or place.

the current fashion

style often implies a distinctive fashion adopted by people of taste.

a media baron used to traveling in style

mode suggests the fashion of the moment among those anxious to appear elegant and sophisticated.

slim bodies are the mode at this resort

vogue stresses the wide acceptance of a fashion.

short skirts are back in vogue

fad suggests caprice in taking up or in dropping a fashion.

last year's fad is over

rage and craze stress intense enthusiasm in adopting a fad.

Cajun food was the rage nearly everywhere for a time
crossword puzzles once seemed just a passing craze but have lasted

Examples of craze in a Sentence

Verb horses crazed by the barn fire kicked out their stall doors as they tried to escape Noun if history is any guide, this latest diet for losing weight is just another craze
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
Another crazed superfan maybe? Erica Gonzales, ELLE, 23 Mar. 2023 Ellie, crazed and exhausted, emerges into the cold air in a cloud of smoke. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2023
Noun
Long-term, Wang expects a handful of technology names to come out on top given today’s high AI costs relative to the open and decentralized Internet craze of the 1990s and the 2000s. Samantha Subin, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2024 Long before the Challengers craze and tennis-core fashion trends, Virginia state natives Selden and Thorton have been creating space for Black tennis players to find community. Essence, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for craze 

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English crasen to crush, craze, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish krasa to crush

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Noun

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of craze was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near craze

Cite this Entry

“Craze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/craze. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

craze

1 of 2 verb
crazed; crazing
1
sometimes offensive : to make or become mentally unsound or as if mentally unsound
2
: to develop a network of fine cracks
crazed glass

craze

2 of 2 noun
1
: something that is very popular for a short time
the latest craze in music
2
: a tiny crack in a surface or coating (as of glaze or enamel)

More from Merriam-Webster on craze

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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