lunacy

play

noun lu·na·cy \ ˈlü-nə-sē \

Definition of lunacy

plural lunacies

1 dated

a :insanity 1

b :intermittent insanity once believed to be related to phases of the moon

2 :wild foolishness :extravagant folly

3 :a foolish act

See lunacy defined for English-language learners

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Examples of lunacy in a Sentence

Quitting her job was lunacy.
His idea was considered total lunacy.

Recent Examples of lunacy from the Web

This stupid wall along the Mexican border, the Russia investigation—all that lunacy will end today.

— michael harriot, The Root, "America Would Rather Topple Statues Than White Supremacy," 18 Aug. 2017
Which means Democrats either have to figure a way to defuse it or—gasp!—Illinois is looking at another four years of this lunacy.

— ben joravsky, Chicago Reader, "How Governor Rauner is weaponizing the Illinois tax hike," 11 July 2017
Lies, threats, incrimination, betrayal, last-minute bargaining, total lunacy.

— dwight garner, New York Times, "Soft Children Confront a Hard World in Maile Meloy’s New Novel," 6 June 2017
First, pundits can dispel the notion that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have the secret sauce for pacifying Trump and keeping him from descending into right-wing lunacy.

— jennifer rubin, The Denver Post, "The big political takeaways on the U.S. exiting the Paris climate deal," 2 June 2017
The fruit of the lunacy starts with George and Harold (voiced with great childish glee by Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch), two elementary school buddies who spend more time pulling pranks than studying.

— rick bentley, sacbee.com, "The many jokes are elementary in ‘Underpants’," 1 June 2017
The typical Sebaldian character is estranged and isolate, visited by depression and menaced by lunacy, wounded into storytelling by historical trauma.

— james wood, The New Yorker, "W. G. Sebald, Humorist," 31 May 2017
Summer is a time for love, lunacy, ass's ears, and laughs.

— Philly.com, "Theater: New and Noteworthy," 28 May 2017
The bunkerlike storefront, on a quiet corner in a residential neighborhood, offers no indication of the unique lunacy within.

— robert simonson, New York Times, "In the Bars of Berlin, Both the Drinks and Design Are Bracing," 24 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of lunacy

lunatic

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First Known Use: 1541

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lunacy Synonyms

Synonyms

absurdity, asininity, bêtise, fatuity, foolery, foppery, idiocy, imbecility, inanity, insanity, folly, stupidity

Antonyms

mind, saneness, sanity

Related Words

absurdness, craziness, foolishness, inaneness, madness, senselessness, witlessness; buffoonery, monkeyshine (s), shenanigan (s), tomfoolery; drivel, humbug, nonsense, twaddle; blunder, bungle, flub, goof, howler

Near Antonyms

discretion, forethought, prudence, sagacity, wisdom; brainstorm, inspiration

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Medical Dictionary

lunacy

play

noun lu·na·cy \ ˈlü-nə-sē \

medical Definition of lunacy

plural lunacies

dated

:mental illness; also :intermittent mental illness once believed to be related to phases of the moon

Law Dictionary

lunacy

play

noun lu·na·cy \ ˈlü-nə-sē \

legal Definition of lunacy

:insanity

Learn More about lunacy

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lunacy Spanish Central: Translation of lunacy Nglish: Translation of lunacy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lunacy for Arabic speakers

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lunacy

Definition of lunacy

From the M-W Editors

Examples of lunacy in a Sentence

Recent Examples of lunacy from the Web

Origin and Etymology of lunacy

lunacy Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Psychology Terms

Medical Dictionary

lunacy

medical Definition of lunacy

Law Dictionary

lunacy

legal Definition of lunacy

Learn More about lunacy

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