variants
or cockamamie
as in ridiculous
so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter
a cockamamy plan that could only have been dreamt up by a cartoonish mad scientist
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cockamamy
Affleck directs and stars as Tony Mendez, a CIA exfiltration specialist who comes up with a cockamamie scheme to free a group of hostages hiding in the home of a Canadian diplomat.
—
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cockamamy
Adjective
-
Across the eight-episode series, things move from the ridiculous to the sublime.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The film is afraid to be ridiculous, when in fact ridiculousness should be the animating spirit of most successful studio horror.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
As a result, the price of gold is now approaching $5,300 an ounce, a level that would have seemed absurd even to seasoned commodities traders just a few years ago.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Luke and Mike Bell, the father-and-son team from South Africa already famous for pushing electric quadcopters to velocities that seemed positively absurd, appear to be building for both.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Every detail of Canadian/American (and the slash here is intentionally indicating a romantic relationship versus a friend or co-worker vibe) civics was sillier than the last.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Nothing is too silly or simple.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The jobs report was a complete failure, and his economic approval sits at a pathetic 39%.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Now, any of the most pathetic four can draft first overall.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Although his fortunes have faltered, counting Trump out would be foolish.—
Jonathan Lemire,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
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But counting on two players with hamstring issues to rescue the defense seems more foolish than strategic.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And to be perfectly fair, nervous gratuitous laughter at stupid jokes is not unknown among anyone, including the press corps.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Above all else, avoid the stupid mistakes that lead to injury, illness, and evacuation from the game.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cockamamy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cockamamy. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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