1
as in insane
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
He's full of creative ideas, but some are truly batty and lead nowhere.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in psychotic
unable to think in a clear or sensible way
Being cooped up together all weekend can make a family go a bit batty.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of batty
Fifty-seven years ago, another veteran character actress in her seventies, Ruth Gordon, played a batty old lady in a horror film from a major studio, Rosemary’s Baby, and ultimately took home a best supporting actress Oscar.
—
Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
One of the things that drives me truly batty is my duvet.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2025
Outdoor pumpkin decor never looked so batty!
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
Instead, channel vibes that are more wickedly stylish than batty.
—Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for batty
Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
One of the things that drives me truly batty is my duvet.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2025
Outdoor pumpkin decor never looked so batty!
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
Instead, channel vibes that are more wickedly stylish than batty.
—Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for batty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for batty
Adjective
-
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Melissa Jackson rejected the defense’s claims that Gilbert was legally insane.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
-
The feminine style looks like a ballet flat but is just as comfortable as a sneaker—hence its insane appeal.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
Mary, our thirtysomething narrator, has recently boomeranged back to her hometown (York) after experiencing a break with reality that may or may not be psychotic.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
In March 2023, Abdulai was assaulted by an inmate during a psychotic episode.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Captain Ahab went mad in his vengeful search for Moby Dick.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2026
-
Standing at 6 feet 8 inches in heels, Evans towers above cast members including Stephanie Hsu, Juliette Lewis, Harvey Guillén and more, as the mad scientist and head of a paranormal household that has welcomed in two hapless strangers during a rainstorm.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
John Boyega's ex-Stormtrooper Finn and Han are brothers from another mother, Oscar Isaac's pilot Poe is as cool and refreshing as a tall glass of blue milk, and Adam Driver's Kylo does his best Vader impression as a maniacal villain with some serious emotional issues.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
No, Kenny Atkinson insisted a bug was taking his voice, not the Detroit Pistons and this maniacal Game 5 victory.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Do crazy stuff on social media?—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Just being connected with another human is crazy.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Kids, especially boys under the age of 13, are going nuts for the film, giving it an A CinemaScore, and 5/5 stars on exit polling service PostTrak.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
23 May 2026
-
Key Takeaways Both nuts support heart, gut, and metabolic health.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
And that was so arrogant and stupid on my part.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
At some point, Brandon Aiyuk has to learn that stupid decisions come with consequences.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The book does often feel like a recording of a mental jam session, but there is also a sense of being guided by a kind of hesitating yet urgent voice that needs to get things figured out.—
Craig Morgan Teicher,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
The Eternal Values promise Mierers lured followers in with discussions of enlightenment and mental clarity, often revolving around diet, exercise, celibacy, and the willingness to give up material possessions.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Batty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/batty. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
