nutty

adjective

nut·​ty ˈnə-tē 

nuttier; nuttiest

1

: having or producing nuts

nutty trees

2

: having a flavor like that of nuts

a nutty sauce

3

: eccentric, silly

a nutty professor

nutty ideas

also, sometimes offensive : mentally unsound

nuttily

ˈnə-tə-lē 

adverb

… the movie is so nuttily untethered to any semblance of reality that it's almost enjoyable.

—Elisabeth Vincentelli

nuttiness noun

The menu includes dishes like a rich pecan soup whose nuttiness is offset by chipotle chilies and tomatoes.

—Matt Lee et al.

It's not just Marlon Brando's nuttiness that makes this special—it's the gusto with which he wallows in his own nuttiness.

—Karen Schoemer

Synonyms

• insane
• silly
• stupid
• crazy
• absurd
• foolish
• mad
• idiotic
• lunatic [informal]
• irrational
• looney
• whacky
• loony
• zany
• wacky

Examples of nutty in a Sentence

candy with a nutty taste

the only other prisoner in the dungeon was a nutty soul who feasted on bugs

Recent Examples on the Web

The nutty, caramel-like notes feel seasonal but less polarizing than pumpkin. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025

Apple dapple cake features warm, nutty flavors and is topped with a heavenly toffee glaze. —Phoebe Evans, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025

Nutmeg With its warm, slightly nutty flavor, nutmeg is a popular addition to sweet drinks and desserts, such as Mexican hot chocolate, custards, and pumpkin pie. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 30 Sep. 2025

Golden flaxseed can be thought of as milder, but still nutty. —Christina Chaey, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for nutty

• cutty
• putty

Kids Definition

nutty

adjective

nut·​ty ˈnət-ē 

nuttier; nuttiest

1

: containing or suggesting nuts (as in flavor)

2

: not showing good sense

also, sometimes offensive : mentally unbalanced

nuttiness noun