as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
dotty relatives that we have to endure only on Thanksgiving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 dotty
People wanted to wear clothes at the cutting edge, which gave dotty fabrics woven by machine a natural fanbase among the society ladies who could afford them.
—
Natalie Hammond, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
Jones, Redgrave, and an unrecognizable Margot Kidder as their dotty landlady bravely expose their vulnerability.
—Armond White, National Review, 25 June 2025
This set by Studio Bloom takes two breakout shades of the year — butter yellow and mocha mousse — and elevates them for the season ahead with a dotty design.
—Mica Ricketts, Refinery29, 9 May 2025
Now, one of the largest celebrations of Kusama’s dotty world will debut at Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).
—Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2024
Joanne and Morgan’s dotty mother, Lynn (Stephanie Faracy), dabbles in the metaphysical to constant mockery; their gay father, Henry (Michael Hitchcock), is rarely able to enjoy his own happiness.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024
Smith starred as Joyce Chilvers, a small-town social climber in postwar Northern England whose hunger to be accepted by the elite locals isn’t helped by her dotty mother nor her underachieving podiatrist husband Gilbert, played by Michael Palin.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2024
To play Sam’s dotty grandparents in Sixteen Candles, Hughes tapped a quartet of veteran character actors.
—John Russell, Peoplemag, 4 May 2024
Natalie Hammond, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
Jones, Redgrave, and an unrecognizable Margot Kidder as their dotty landlady bravely expose their vulnerability.
—Armond White, National Review, 25 June 2025
This set by Studio Bloom takes two breakout shades of the year — butter yellow and mocha mousse — and elevates them for the season ahead with a dotty design.
—Mica Ricketts, Refinery29, 9 May 2025
Now, one of the largest celebrations of Kusama’s dotty world will debut at Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).
—Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2024
Joanne and Morgan’s dotty mother, Lynn (Stephanie Faracy), dabbles in the metaphysical to constant mockery; their gay father, Henry (Michael Hitchcock), is rarely able to enjoy his own happiness.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024
Smith starred as Joyce Chilvers, a small-town social climber in postwar Northern England whose hunger to be accepted by the elite locals isn’t helped by her dotty mother nor her underachieving podiatrist husband Gilbert, played by Michael Palin.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2024
To play Sam’s dotty grandparents in Sixteen Candles, Hughes tapped a quartet of veteran character actors.
—John Russell, Peoplemag, 4 May 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dotty
Adjective
-
Menu references to ancient reptiles — plus the brand’s silly mascot, a dinosaur in a toque — make fast food feel more like fun food.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
16 Apr. 2026
-
What appears to be a bouncy, silly romp about a slightly surreal situation (Murray plays Phil, a weatherman reliving the same day over and over) is, at its core, actually quite deep.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And then the second one is grassroots and bottom up and the local solutions to this thing that is a stupid business model.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Allowing one nine years of eligibility is just stupid.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Don’t be afraid to look foolish in pursuit of bliss!—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
-
This could be the last straw for refiners foolish enough to remain here.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
William Atherton’s Jerry Hathaway—the money-hungry mad king behind Project Crossbow—is unfortunately medium plausible.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Kimi and Margo go at each other at the picnic, and now Margo is mad at Mark.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In an insane society, this is a project of years, not weeks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
If jurors do decide that Fahim was insane at the time of the killings, he would likely be sent to a state hospital for mental health treatment.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But all jokes aside, that Howard Stern has not yet been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is, quite frankly, absurd.—
Malina Saval,
Rolling Stone,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Grief is absurd in the same way humor is absurd.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Close bag, then, using a rolling pin, gently pound asparagus until some pieces are broken up and some remain intact (don’t go too crazy).—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Apr. 2026
-
This was hooping of the highest order, quite possibly the best game of the NBA season if not the craziest.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Even those on the right who find Groypers idiotic actually echo many of their political positions.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
That idiotic comment should exclude him from being granted a place to air his views.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dotty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dotty. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
