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

Oats have a milder flavor and a soft, creamy texture when cooked, while quinoa has a slightly nutty flavor and a light, fluffy texture. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 25 Feb. 2026

Simply Nature Butter fared well in our taste test, with several editors commenting on the smooth and creamy texture and nice balance of salty and nutty flavors. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026

Almond milk is described as having a subtly sweet yet nutty flavor. —Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 19 Feb. 2026

The blini is like a micro pancake made of buckwheat that is slightly nutty. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 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