craze 1 of 2

craze

2 of 2

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
Olivia Atwood, Simone Biles, and others have all joined in on the Labubu craze. Julia Gomez, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025 How to watch the Love Island reunion Want to see what all the Love Island craze was about? Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 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
  • Josh Blackman, a law professor at South Texas College of Law, said the trend is notable because many cases involve on-camera evidence that should be easily provable in a court of law.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Another key implication lies in the de-dollarization trend driven by Russian alignment with China.
    Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 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
  • 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
  • That equates to more than 45 million Americans using CBD products, based on latest available U.S. Census estimates.
    Brendan Bures, chicagotribune.com, 2 Oct. 2019
Verb
  • The acting didn’t bother me, but the directing did.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
  • If the odds of winning the lottery are so low, why do people bother playing?
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Long before the video diary became the en vogue format of personal expression on YouTube and social media platforms like TikTok, Ross McElwee was America’s preeminent first-person filmmaker.
    Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Multiverse, based in Donostia, Spain, is working at the intersection of two of technology’s most in-vogue fields—AI and quantum computing.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • For me, this film was more about the duel between the stillness in the in the internal rage and that wanting to percolate outwards.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
  • This is quite the rarity, and will delight executives at the streamer at a time when subscriber retention is all-encompassing and co-viewing is all the rage.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Originally self-published, Until the World Falls Down constellated enthusiasm on TikTok in the weeks following its publication, ultimately leading to a three-book deal with a publisher.
    Logan Karlie September 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
  • But when the Republican voters lack enthusiasm, as in 2022, Democrats go into the fall with a clear advantage.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Housed in a historic Germantown residence, the restaurant serves its brunch family-style, with strangers seated together at communal tables.
    Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Tate McRae hit the red carpet in a custom sheer Grecian-style white gown by Ludovic de Saint Sernin.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Craze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/craze. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on craze

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!