nutjob

noun nut·job \ ˈnət-ˌjäb \

variants: or nut job

Updated on: 23 Feb 2018

Definition of nutjob

informal

: a mentally unbalanced person : a crazy person

Weird, erratic, and alcoholic, [he] was the kind of nutjob it was easy, if not irresistible, to demonize.
—Jennifer Reese

Recent Examples of nutjob from the Web

No danger at all of being snowed in with a murderous nutjob lot at the Rookery.

— sarah rense, Esquire, "A Shining Pop-up Bar Is Opening Just in Time for Winter to Drive You Crazy," 17 Jan. 2018
Which leads to a question: Just what kind of nutjob thinks of him- or herself as president?

— m. scott brauer, Esquire, "What I Saw Trailing Candidates for 5 Months in New Hampshire," 9 Feb. 2016
Next comes Bobbi, a cheerful 20something actress from California who seems at first charmingly naïve before revealing herself as a serious nutjob.

— pam kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "At North Coast Rep, casting keeps 'Red Hot Lovers' laughs on track," 10 Sep. 2017
The premise seemed to set up a wacky sci-fi comedy about the one sane man among a group of nutjobs.

— james poniewozik, New York Times, "Review: ‘People of Earth’ Returns for Affectingly Close Encounters," 23 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of nutjob

¹nut + ¹job

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1959

See Words from the same year

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up nutjob? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

nutjob

Definition of nutjob

Recent Examples of nutjob from the Web

Origin and Etymology of nutjob

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

traduce

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Words of the Year: 1066

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

More Confusing Words—Quiz

True or False?

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

nutjob

Definition of nutjob

Recent Examples of nutjob from the Web

Origin and Etymology of nutjob

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes