insanity

noun

in·san·i·ty | \ in-ˈsa-nə-tē

plural insanities

Definition of insanity

1 dated : a severely disordered state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder

2 law : unsoundness of mind or lack of the ability to understand that prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or that releases one from criminal or civil responsibility

3a : extreme folly or unreasonableness the insanity of violence His comments were pure insanity.

b : something utterly foolish or unreasonable the insanities of modern life

Synonyms & Antonyms On the Meaning of Insanity More Example Sentences Learn More about insanity

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Synonyms & Antonyms for insanity

Synonyms

aberration, dementia, derangement, lunacy, madness, mania, rage [archaic]

Antonyms

mind, saneness, sanity

On the Meaning of Insanity

An oft-quoted bon mot (frequently attributed to Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, or a number of other people who probably never said it) is that insanity may be defined as “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” While the job of lexicographers might be easier if they were allowed to use witty sayings instead of precise definitions, such belletristic labors are not within their purview. The straight facts about insanity are these: it has been in use in English since the late 16th century, for the first two hundred years or so carrying only the literal meaning “the condition of being mentally deranged.” In the 19th century it began to take on a looser sense, “extreme folly or unreasonableness.” In modern usage, insanity may be found in both senses: you may tell your brother that trying to skateboard while holding onto a car is "insanity" (in which case you mean that it is extremely foolish) or encounter the stricter original meaning in such contexts as insanity plea.

Examples of insanity in a Sentence

She was found not guilty by reason of insanity. His friends thought his decision to quit his job was pure insanity. Please, no more violence. It's time to stop this insanity. the insanities of modern life

Recent Examples on the Web

When Virginia guard Kyle Guy stepped to the foul line with 0.6 second left, an NCAA tournament’s worth of insanity had taken place in the prior five minutes alone. — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, "Virginia Advances in NCAA Final Four to National Championship Game," 6 Apr. 2019 Memories of the insanity just beyond the store's walls quickly evaporated as guests wandered further into the party. — Mai Morsch, Vogue, "The Fashion Week Weary Found Refuge at DVF's Botanical Oasis," 11 Feb. 2019 Whether Sawyer is in the grip of insanity or a hellish trap of legitimate physical danger, Unsane is a dispiritingly pedestrian woman-in-peril shocker to have come from such a maverick filmmaker. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Unsane': Film Review | Berlin 2018," 21 Feb. 2018 Asking someone to jump in a shark tank for the sake of fashion is an exercise in insanity. — Laura Brown, Harper's BAZAAR, "Rihanna: The Interview," 5 Feb. 2015 Along those lines, female insanity or hysteria has historically been tied to their reproductive organs. — Chloe Schama, Vogue, "How Laura Sims Turned the “Torturous Limbo” of Infertility Into Fascinating Fiction," 11 Jan. 2019 More importantly, this film remains grounded through its gorgeously drawn insanity by focusing on newest hero Miles Morales and his emotional relationships with imperfect mentors. 1. — Sam Machkovech And Nathan Mattise, Ars Technica, "Films for the discerning nerd: Ars picks the best of 2018," 27 Dec. 2018 Oxford was accused of high treason for his crime and was ultimately found not guilty for reasons of insanity, according to the History channel's website. — Chanel Vargas, Town & Country, "15 Fascinating Facts You Didn't Know About Queen Victoria," 8 Jan. 2019 The hospitals would continue to treat patients getting treatment as part of a criminal case or who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity. — Joseph O’sullivan, The Seattle Times, "Inslee unveils $675 million plan to reverse crisis in Washington’s mental-health system," 12 Dec. 2018

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

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Statistics for insanity

Last Updated

17 Apr 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for insanity

The first known use of insanity was in 1590

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More Definitions for insanity

insanity

noun

English Language Learners Definition of insanity

: severe mental illness : the condition of being insane

: something that is very foolish or unreasonable

See the full definition for insanity in the English Language Learners Dictionary

insanity

noun

in·san·i·ty | \ in-ˈsa-nə-tē

Kids Definition of insanity

: the condition of being abnormal or unhealthy in mind

insanity

noun

in·san·i·ty | \ in-ˈsan-ət-ē

plural insanities

Medical Definition of insanity

1 dated : a severely disordered state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder

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insanity

noun

in·san·i·ty

Legal Definition of insanity

1 : unsoundness of mind or lack of the ability to understand that prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or that releases one from criminal or civil responsibility: as

a : a disease, defect, or condition of the mind that renders one unable to understand the nature of a criminal act or the fact that it is wrong or to conform one's conduct to the requirements of the law being violated

b : inability to understand and participate in legal proceedings brought against one : incompetence

c : inability to understand the nature and purpose of a punishment (as the death penalty) to which one has been sentenced

d : inability to understand the nature and consequences of one's acts (as making a will) or of events, matters, or proceedings in which one is involved — see also commitment, durham rule, irresistible impulse test, m'naghten test, not guilty by reason of insanity, substantial capacity test — compare capacity, competency, competent, diminished capacity, sanity

2 : the affirmative defense of having acted while insane