as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
a zany plan to drive cross-country on a motorized scooter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in clown
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior
hired a zany to entertain the children at the birthday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits
one of the challenges of hosting a radio call-in program is preventing the zanies from completely taking over the discussion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of zany
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
The show, while fantastical and zany, turns a mirror to the state of society today and invites the audience to look inward.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 3 Aug. 2025
Everyone plays it reliably straight, a contrast that helps the film maintain its zany energy—and, in the spirit of the original trilogy, maximize the number of jokes per minute.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 1 Aug. 2025
That same door also leads to a horrifying dimension full of giant skulls with spider legs, so expect a few zany destinations to show up too.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for zany
Adjective
The movie is possibly loud and colorful and zany and kooky and busy enough to mask the desperation in a script that shows little imagination for the psychological hurdles of people from three different generations struggling to understand one another.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
The show, while fantastical and zany, turns a mirror to the state of society today and invites the audience to look inward.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 3 Aug. 2025
Everyone plays it reliably straight, a contrast that helps the film maintain its zany energy—and, in the spirit of the original trilogy, maximize the number of jokes per minute.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 1 Aug. 2025
That same door also leads to a horrifying dimension full of giant skulls with spider legs, so expect a few zany destinations to show up too.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for zany
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zany
Adjective
-
Alcaraz and Sinner are early enough in their careers that debates around their legacies feel silly.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Evans described Steve as goofy, silly, and full of charm, with a love for food and people alike.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Since then, Tank has called Jake a clown and easy work.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
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That was the problem: women were not meant to be clowns.—
April White,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
These people’s histories range from the eccentric to the inspiring and are often stranger than fiction, memorable as well as consequential.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 July 2025
-
Ra’s decades-long adherence to this personal mythology, along with his air of serene bemusement and his extravagant robes and headdresses, led to his popular image as a colorful eccentric.—
Ekow Eshun
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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My point wasn’t that men have had a harder time than women — that would be absurd.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
19 Aug. 2025
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Given the already substantial spend on incoming transfers, suggesting the club needs more, possibly sending its spending past the $500 million mark, seems absurd, almost greedy.—
James Nalton,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Learn more about management options and which food plants are most susceptible to this insect in our harlequin bug on vegetables web page.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Once infused with the diabolical spirit, the guide is transformed into a buffoon, complete with a harlequin outfit—a mad joker and a dancing fool who does a little jig to the sound of a jazz trio.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The internet is ablaze with Reddit forums, magazine articles and blog posts detailing why main character Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) is the worst and how the writers disrespected the original.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Chiesa has emerged as a bit of a cult character at Liverpool.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Jess: The curds themselves are crispy, but the toast is stupid.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
22 Aug. 2025
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The dialogue wasn’t dumbed down and stupid comic book stuff.—
William Earl,
Variety,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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One of many smoking guns in an artillery of reasons that doomed the Max original to cancelation long ago, Che was criticized endlessly after Season 2.—
IndieWire Staff,
IndieWire,
16 Aug. 2025
-
The new film, written by Jordan Weiss and directed by Nisha Ganatra, has been praised for bringing a new take to the story while honoring the original.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Zany.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zany. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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