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 of nutty

• insane
• silly
• stupid
• crazy
• foolish
• absurd
• mad
• idiotic
• lunatic
• irrational
• 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

From there, nutty chestnut, rich cocoa, and tart black currant add contrasting moody elements, while rose and bergamot add a sense of subtle freshness and flowering. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026

Continue cooking until butter begins to smell nutty and darkens in color. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026

Sweet, nutty and reminiscent of an ice cream cone on a hot summer day, this light scent is perfect for the gourmand-loving perfume enthusiast who wants to smell like a whisper of sugar wafting by. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Waititi’s nutty neon space opera is the goofiest, most delightful entry in the MCU. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026

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