cuckoos

noun

plural of cuckoo
1
as in lunatics
a person who lacks good sense or judgment one cuckoo at the campground tried to boil soup in a plastic cup

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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 cuckoos Canada geese are protected, as well as most other geese, swans, ducks, cranes, cuckoos, hummingbirds, doves and flamingos. — Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026 Different bird species understand anti-cuckoo warning calls Birds of different species can understand each other’s alarm calls warning of cuckoos. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cuckoos
  1. lunatics
  2. geese
  3. fools
  4. nuts
  5. idiots
Noun
  • The show will serve as a platform for countless lunatics within the InfoWars universe and a platform for larger announcements about the company’s fictional exploits.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Republicans see an opportunity here, portraying progressive and socialist Democrats as lunatics and communists.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of lunatics
Noun
  • On the morning of the anniversary, four deer emerged from a reed thicket next to the lawn, and two Canada geese flew by.
    — Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Drawing from the Renaissance game’s design and motif, there are playful talismans — geese, dragonflies, clovers, horseshoes, dice, keys and ladybugs — across trays, teapots, mugs, boxes, miniatures and espresso sets.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of geese
Noun
  • Major search sites and every buyer’s agent can still see how long it’s been for sale, and a home that vanishes for a few days and returns at the same price fools no one.
    — Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
  • But Thomas and Erika are no fools, coolly telling off smiling Hitler sympathizers during a tony reception.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of fools
Noun
  • Research shows that people who eat more nuts tend to have a lower risk of various heart diseases and of dying from a stroke as compared to people who don’t eat nuts often.
    — Mark Gurarie, HEALTH, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Focus on whole, nutrient-rich foods—especially fresh produce, whole grains, nuts, and legumes.
    — Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of nuts
Noun
  • Eleven gullible idiots were talked into acquitting because of an imaginary female ailment.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • And then there’s the culture of the scientists, and these idiots can’t read Dickens.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of idiots

Browse Nearby Words

cuckoo clocks
cuckoos
cuddies
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cuckoos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cuckoos. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of wabi-sabi

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

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
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All