insane

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈsān How to pronounce insane (audio)
Definition of insanenext
1
as in mad
unable to think in a clear or sensible way After learning of the robbery, they were insane with anger and foolishly searched the neighborhood looking for their belongings.

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2
as in absurd
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality a completely insane plan to build an opera house in the middle of nowhere

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3
as in stupid
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment an insane plan to blow all of their savings on lottery tickets

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4
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount wanted an insane amount of money to paint our house

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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 insane If Gigi is malintentioned and insane and a homewrecker, there’s no story, right? — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026 If he is found legally insane at the time of the killing, he would be confined to a state hospital rather than prison. — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 The lineup is truly insane and full of my heroes and friends. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 24 Aug. 2026 That’s a big memory for me as a kid, so having that happen is insane. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insane
  1. mad
  2. absurd
  3. stupid
  4. excessive
  5. maniacal
  6. bizarre
  7. crazy
  8. extreme
Adjective
  • Crowder would not have been that mad if the guy had just fessed up and said something normal in his own voice.
    — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
  • But, as mad as the idea may have seemed back then, the tradition is still going strong 40 years later with participants coming from around the world to cast their dignity aside — along with a warm robe — and take the plunge into the freezing water.
    — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of mad
Adjective
  • The Appalachian Trail is absolutely brutal The distance alone is obviously absurd, but mileage is only part of what makes the AT such a beast.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The selection process does not judge whether a study is admirable or absurd, good or bad.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of absurd
Adjective
  • Video games are one of the world’s most dominant storytelling mediums, yet the writing is often dismissed — not always unfairly — as melodramatic, overly serious and occasionally very stupid.
    — Gene Park, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Bonnell The enthusiast’s approach Bonnell’s team uses matters because electric motorcycles have an annoying tendency to make power delivery either spectacularly good or spectacularly stupid.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of stupid
Adjective
  • Carrying five tight ends is excessive, so there probably won’t be room for Fidone unless Theo Johnson’s shoulder injury is more serious than initially believed.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Interestingly, patient education level or excessive punctuation had little impact.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of excessive
Adjective
  • His teammate Christian McCaffrey, who is also known for his maniacal training regimen, has been impressed with Kittle’s recovery.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Especially after a clunker of a season in 2025, superstar receiver Justin Jefferson won’t settle for anything other than maniacal attention to detail on and off the field.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of maniacal
Adjective
  • The idea that these two would have a five-minute-or-less breakup conversation, then plop down on the couch and happily embark on an acid trip together, strains credulity a little, even for this bizarre, codependent friend group.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Twenty-eight million views on YouTube certified the bizarre piece as a fan favorite.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • And there is baseball left to be played and this is a crazy game.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Unfortunately, very little on this project coheres in any meaningful or crazy sniffable way.
    — Christopher R. Weingarten, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of crazy
Adjective
  • Overdosing on the drug can cause extreme drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination, decreased reflexes, respiratory depression, coma and possible death.
    — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • In the Rocky Mountains, years of extreme heat and drought have baked the landscape, drying up streams that feed the Colorado River and desiccating pastures where cattle graze.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of extreme

Browse Nearby Words

ins and outs
insane
insanely
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Cite this Entry

“Insane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insane. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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