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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
Brood parasites such as cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, tricking the hosts into caring for their offspring at the expense of their own.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Brood parasites such as cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, tricking the hosts into caring for their offspring at the expense of their own.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cuckoos
Noun
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Even then, though, the popular take — the story of the lunatics taking over asylum — didn’t sit right with me.—
Paul Fischer,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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Beating these lunatics was incredible, right?—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Today, the bluegills, catfish and Canada geese that once populated the area have mostly abandoned the creek, which has long been polluted by runoff from farms and nearby parking lots.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
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The town official spoke with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, and with this week’s warm weather potentially causing the pond’s ice to thaw, geese will have more space to spread out, helping to reduce the potential for transmission.—
Matthew Sedacca,
Curbed,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Only fools would think differently.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Arsenal would be fools to adopt a different approach as long as nothing changes.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Better yet, grind your own from peanuts or other nuts in stores that have a grinder, or do it at home in a food processor.—
Cory Martin,
Verywell Health,
16 Mar. 2026
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Points are given for having at least three natural food sources for wildlife, things like seeds, native plants, nuts and cones, host plants for caterpillars, a layer of fallen leaves, insects, etc.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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What sets Brule apart from fellow idiots in similar setups like Borat or Philomena Cunk is Reilly’s ability to present Brule with deep pathos and a sense of mystery, offering glimpses into a dark backstory, all made unsettling by the show’s analog-horror aesthetic.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
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One gets the sense, reading DuBois, that Stanton’s fervor for political action stemmed from a dread of being governed by idiots.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cuckoos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cuckoos. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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