as in lunatic
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
a dingbat who was constantly firing off nonsensical letters to the editor
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Recent Examples of dingbat
At this moment, though, perception is everything, and Blue Owl was viewed as a suspect parvenue to the private-credit world and a total dingbat to emphasize private equity firms.
—
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026
The varied styles include: Arts & Crafts, Streamline Moderne, Brutalist, Art Deco, Victorian, Googie, along with ranch style homes, elegant steel and glass residences, and dingbat apartment complexes, to name a few.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Again, how can someone be so essential, so rich and, at the same time, such a dingbat?
—Daniel Vergano, Scientific American, 13 Sep. 2024
He was inspired to invent these elders by contemplating the oddly textured cinder blocks of a dingbat apartment on 6th Avenue in Venice.
—Mark Gozonsky, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2023
There are various residences currently on the project site including 10 bungalows, five dingbat apartments (the kind built over a two-car garage in sunnier states), and a single-family home across multiple lots, according to the Los Angeles Times.
—Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 9 Aug. 2023
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026
The varied styles include: Arts & Crafts, Streamline Moderne, Brutalist, Art Deco, Victorian, Googie, along with ranch style homes, elegant steel and glass residences, and dingbat apartment complexes, to name a few.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Again, how can someone be so essential, so rich and, at the same time, such a dingbat?
—Daniel Vergano, Scientific American, 13 Sep. 2024
He was inspired to invent these elders by contemplating the oddly textured cinder blocks of a dingbat apartment on 6th Avenue in Venice.
—Mark Gozonsky, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2023
There are various residences currently on the project site including 10 bungalows, five dingbat apartments (the kind built over a two-car garage in sunnier states), and a single-family home across multiple lots, according to the Los Angeles Times.
—Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 9 Aug. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dingbat
Noun
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Friends with a sudden devotion to nature begin making plans to convene in parks; TurboTax becomes your closest email companion; your risk of injury at the hands of a lunatic on a City Bike, haunted by the memory of a New Year’s resolution to exercise, may increase.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
25 Mar. 2026
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio wasn’t far behind, saying the war is being waged against religious lunatics.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Looking for trends after 20-something games is a fool’s errand, of course.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
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There was always a comedian on somebody’s album doing a skit or some funny one-liners or in the video acting a fool.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On the other hand, she was recently seen getting dinner with Geese front man Cameron Winter, and the music video features a swan, which is basically a goose.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
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Search for goose attack suspect Maryland State Police responded to the call, but said when troopers arrived, the suspects were gone, and the goose appeared uninjured.—
Ashley Paul,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Lluís then calls Puig Antich a moron.—
Colm Tóibín,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2026
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This drunk moron — quite different from his character in the novel — bears a ton of blame.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This maniac should be removed from office.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Because Sidney Prescott, now Evans, exists only in relationship to Ghostface, the costume worn by many different knife-wielding maniacs over the years, starting with her high school boyfriend.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dingbat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dingbat. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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