1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

cuckoo 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of cuckoonext
as in foolish
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment offered a completely cuckoo suggestion for using the defunct strip mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cuckoo

2 of 2

noun

ˈkü-(ˌ)kü How to pronounce cuckoo (audio)
1
as in lunatic
a person who lacks good sense or judgment one cuckoo at the campground tried to boil soup in a plastic cup

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in goose
a silly flighty person didn't want to be among those cuckoos who race around the mall the day before Christmas

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 cuckoo
Adjective
In the Disney film, Geppetto is a maker of toys and cuckoo clocks living in a vaguely European half-timber house. — Perri Klass, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 May 2022 In the midst of such cuckoo-ness, my son, Isaac, and daughter-in-law, Lennon, had the courage to bring a child into this world. — New York Times, 15 Mar. 2022
Noun
There in Bauhus’s office, a cuckoo springs out of the little house on the wall—that sleek, modern clock, missing the detail of tradition but still gesturing at something. — Kendra Atleework, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2026 Under the current Gateway plan, those repairs don’t happen until 2040, which is cuckoo, especially if imminent failure is feared. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cuckoo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cuckoo
  1. foolish
  2. lunatic
  3. goose
  4. stupid
  5. fool
  6. silly
  7. mad
  8. maniac
Adjective
  • While the era’s bust eventually brought most of those ventures to an end, Brown said the experience taught him not to let the fear of failure—or looking foolish—get in the way.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Cousins made two foolish mistakes, on the interceptions by Trader and Taaffe.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of foolish
Noun
  • Rabin was killed [in 1995], that was a last straw —seeing an extremist right-wing lunatic in Israel kill Rabin and kill the dreams of peace.
    — Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026
  • In fact, a lunatic in Houston couldn't wait more than one game before sprinting onto the field.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of lunatic
Noun
  • Don’t throttle the goose who lays the golden eggs, don’t blast from the skies the albatross who guarantees fair winds.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Still, the administrators, the commissioners and league presidents must recognize that if trade wars devolve into something more hateful and restrictive, team owners may find their golden goose has fallen into the crockpot.
    — Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of goose
Adjective
  • Whatever to the silly old poem and whatever to the ceremony and all its stupid little details and whatever to all the rules for daughters.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Militarizing an arch in front of the Memorial Bridge is an even more dangerous and stupid idea than turning a ballroom into a bastion.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of stupid
Noun
  • Miami’s pass rushing was nonexistent against Las Vegas Was all the talk about the improvement Chop Robinson (one tackle) made to his game fool’s gold?
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Deepfake candidates already clear live interviews, using voice cloning and real-time face swaps that fool experienced recruiters.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of fool
Noun
  • The glamorous Emmy winner known for Loewe red-carpet looks and starring on prestige dramedy The Bear is returning to full-bore silly in order to play America’s favorite beagle.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
  • It was shot in portrait because it was shot in Instagram by and for a woman who was losing her mind in quarantine and had fully let the sillies take the wheel.
    — Ego Nwodim, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025
Definition of silly
Adjective
  • When the Farmer destroys the flock’s beloved pumpkin patch, Shaun turns mad scientist to fix the problem, only for events to spiral out of control as a wild beast roams the woods of Mossingham.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The show, which stars Jessica Chastain as an investigator who infiltrates online hate groups to prevent incidents of mad violence.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of mad
Noun
  • David extended a hand toward me (imaginary attacks by slow, handshake-wielding maniacs are a martial arts class staple).
    — Johanna Stein, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Unbeknownst to the visitors, there’s an unhappy fifth party already in the house… and more than one homicidal maniac even within that small populace.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 July 2026
Definition of maniac

Browse Nearby Words

cubs
cuckoo
cuckoo clock
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Cuckoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cuckoo. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cuckoo

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cuckoo

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of bellwether

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All