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craze

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word craze distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of craze are fad, fashion, mode, rage, style, and vogue. While all these words mean "the usage accepted by those who want to be up-to-date," rage and craze stress intense enthusiasm in adopting a fad.

Cajun food was the rage nearly everywhere for a time
crossword puzzles once seemed just a passing craze but have lasted

When is fad a more appropriate choice than craze?

The meanings of fad and craze largely overlap; however, fad suggests caprice in taking up or in dropping a fashion.

last year's fad is over

When is it sensible to use fashion instead of craze?

Although the words fashion and craze have much in common, fashion is the most general term and applies to any way of dressing, behaving, writing, or performing that is favored at any one time or place.

the current fashion

In what contexts can mode take the place of craze?

In some situations, the words mode and craze are roughly equivalent. However, mode suggests the fashion of the moment among those anxious to appear elegant and sophisticated.

slim bodies are the mode at this resort

When can style be used instead of craze?

The words style and craze are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, style often implies a distinctive fashion adopted by people of taste.

a media baron used to traveling in style

Where would vogue be a reasonable alternative to craze?

While in some cases nearly identical to craze, vogue stresses the wide acceptance of a fashion.

short skirts are back in vogue

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 craze
Noun
Here's a look at the vinyl variant craze. Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 1 Oct. 2025 The slip-on sneaker craze continues, and Geox wants a bigger piece of the pie. Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
Ford, which started the high-performance truck craze a decade ago with the F-150 Raptor, confirmed that a Raptor R version with even more power and torque will soon go into production. Bymorgan Korn, ABC News, 11 June 2022 The exclamatory marketing epitomizes the desire of folks to post filtered photos of themselves on social media, connecting with millions who craze this basic connection to some semblance of the art world. Natasha Gural, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2021 See All Example Sentences for craze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for craze
Noun
  • Chief Humphrey attributes the positive trends to improved officer morale and a clearer departmental vision.
    Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Then a few years ago bigger artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo jumped on the trend.
    Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The media frenzy about GLP-1 agonists hadn't yet started.
    Mara Gordon, NPR, 24 Apr. 2025
  • During the media frenzy the then-21-year-old held a press conference, delivering a heartfelt resignation speech.
    Janine Rubenstein, Peoplemag, 27 July 2024
Noun
  • These latests features are designed for enterprises who want to integrate their AI technology with either existing Salesforce data or even their own data.
    Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The latests deaths included three residents of long-term care facilities in Dallas, as well as a Balch Springs man in his 20s and a Dallas man in his 60s.
    Dana Branham, Dallas News, 30 Apr. 2020
Verb
  • Reviewing pages have been thinned by the forces of history and technology; few Pynchon skeptics anymore bother to take the time to read the novels and register their objections.
    Book Marks October 2, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
  • But Bob Say, owner of Los Angeles’ Freakbeat Records, for one, isn’t all that bothered.
    Roy Trakin, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Naturally, trends change and evolve, and now belt bags are back en vogue with a more fashion-forward approach that’s still a great addition to your travel gear collection.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025
  • This is what The League has to worry about, and why mobile QBs have become the vogue.
    Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And in the 1980s, a downtown-NYC-all-the-rage feminist painter exploits her female studio assistants.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Flip-flops have proven to be all the rage lately, from the pool to the street to the runway.
    Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • While some people shared Musk’s enthusiasm, others criticized the decision.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Stein, for now, was happy to accept Dodge’s enthusiasm.
    Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan used another adjective to describe Dowdle’s running style.
    Joseph Person, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The cabin-style home’s external features are just as impressive as what’s inside, too.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Craze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/craze. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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