craze

verb \ ˈkrāz \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: craze in a Sentence

Definition of craze

crazed; crazing

transitive verb

1 obsolete : break, shatter

2 : to produce minute cracks on the surface or glaze of

crazed glass

crazed pottery

3 : to make insane or as if insane

crazed by pain and fear

crazed addicts

intransitive verb

1 archaic : shatter, break

2 : to become insane

3 : to develop a mesh of fine cracks

See craze defined for kids

Examples of craze in a Sentence

soldiers who had been crazed by months of combat and chaos in the countryside

Recent Examples of craze from the Web

Robert Mann, an airline consultant and former American Airlines executive, said windows are periodically polished to remove crazing, the formation of tiny cracks in the acrylic windows from exposure to chemicals and the sun’s rays.

— mark gillispie and david koenig, BostonGlobe.com, "Southwest plane with cracked window diverted to Cleveland," 2 May 2018
Becker then built a stout wire fence around his reservation and lived in peace until last week when a killer whale, or orca, arrived and so harried the sea lions that, crazed with fright, the lions smashed down his fence and swarmed his lighthouse.

— johnny miller, San Francisco Chronicle, "Reporter Randy Shilts announces he has AIDS, 1993," 7 Feb. 2018
While the other characters explore romance and sexuality, Jamal explores desperation, getting increasingly crazed by the episode.

— rebecca farley, refinery29.com, "Rolling Deep With The On My Block RollerWorld Conspiracy," 28 Mar. 2018
Lesser clay bricks that might be used for construction of walls often craze and crumble after several winters in contact with soil.

— courtney ortega, star-telegram, "Great garden-path options to ponder," 1 Nov. 2017
In a nation as soccer-crazed yet World Cup-deprived as Peru has been, this is an absolutely massive deal.

— daniel rapaport, SI.com, "Peru's President Told Public Workers to Leave Work at 4 PM to Watch Crucial World Cup Qualifier," 10 Oct. 2017
Her face bursts into a grin at once crazed and innocent.

— sarah miller, The Cut, "I Think About This a Lot: The Cat Refrigerator Scene in The Secret Life of Pets," 2 Oct. 2017
My only thought on the motivational trash can craze sweeping the

— brian stultz, ajc, "LOOK: Texas A&M copies Tennessee with its own turnover trash can," 16 Sep. 2017
Then as now, Valdez and other small Alaska towns were basketball-crazed.

— yereth rosen, Alaska Dispatch News, "The big quake: New book explains how 1964 reshaped Alaska and the scientific world," 3 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'craze.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of craze

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

craze Synonyms

Synonyms

crack, derange, frenzy, madden, unbalance, unhinge, unstring;

Near Antonyms

calm, quiet, relax, settle, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize);

annoy, irritate, vex;

craze

noun

Definition of craze

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)

See craze defined for English-language learners

Examples of craze in a Sentence

if history is any guide, this latest diet for losing weight is just another craze

Recent Examples of craze from the Web

Aimee Plante/azcentral Find ew poké places Downtown, in Carmel and Fishers and coming soon to City Market The raw fish on rice craze has reached burger-loving Indiana.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "Here's where to get a poké bowl in Indianapolis, including 5 new restaurants," 31 May 2018
The horse may be king in Kentucky, but the impact of the Derby can be felt across the country, as retailers and entertainment venues cash in on the craze.

— NBC News, "From juleps to fascinators, the Kentucky Derby is good for small businesses across the U.S.," 5 May 2018
Still, digital coins continue to be a global investment craze, drawing legions of loyalists to industry conferences, generating celebrity endorsements and increasingly attracting the attention of Wall Street.

— bloomberg, latimes.com, "Justice Department opens criminal probe into price manipulation of Bitcoin, other digital currencies," 24 May 2018
Although the demand for Impressionists has paled in comparison to the craze over contemporary art, the Rockefeller’s holdings in this category nevertheless attracted several bidders.

— New York Times, "Pulled From Rockefeller Walls, Picasso, Matisse and Monet Fetch Big Prices," 8 May 2018
Although the board unanimously supported the permit system, one supervisor noted a positive side to the scooter craze.

— rachel swan, San Francisco Chronicle, "SF supervisors pass law to regulate scooters that have descended on city," 17 Apr. 2018
Cold Brew is the latest craze in the multi-billion dollar coffee market.

— doreen christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Free Dunkin' Donuts Cold Brew coffee on Friday," 6 Apr. 2018
A few years ago, waterless urinals were a big craze.

— sandy bauers, Philly.com, "Going green isn't just for the Eagles: Area workplaces embrace sustainability," 15 Mar. 2018
And although power dressing may be the current craze, Budd notes that come 2019, Cancer will prove to be a powerful fashion influence, causing us all to get more in touch with our sensitive sides.

— alice bell, Vogue, "How to Shop in 2018, According to Your Horoscope," 10 Jan. 2018

Origin and Etymology of craze

see ¹craze

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1812

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

craze Synonyms

Synonyms

enthusiasm, fad, fashion, go, last word, latest, mode, rage, sensation, style, trend, vogue;

Near Antonyms

furor, fuss, hullabaloo, to-do, uproar;

bandwagon, crusade, cult, movement;

novelty, wrinkle;

caprice, fancy, whim;

Synonym Discussion of 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.