1
as in dementia
a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life
his incurable insanity requires that he spend the rest of his life in a mental hospital
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in absurdity
a foolish act or idea
everyone laughed at the latest insanity from the town eccentric
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in madness
lack of good sense or judgment
had the insanity to think that taking over a government building in protest of our foreign policy was a good idea
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insanity
In the months since his arrest, Diop has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, according to court documents.
—
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Aug. 2025
Claiborne's defense argued for not guilty by reason of insanity due to a history of mental illness, but the jury rejected this argument.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 31 July 2025
Only federal law can bring this insanity to an end, but politicians will decry the killing and do nothing.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 July 2025
In 2017, after a competency hearing, Gille was found not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of dismemberment and mutilation of dead bodies and malicious destruction of tombs and monuments, court records show.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for insanity
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Aug. 2025
Claiborne's defense argued for not guilty by reason of insanity due to a history of mental illness, but the jury rejected this argument.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 31 July 2025
Only federal law can bring this insanity to an end, but politicians will decry the killing and do nothing.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 July 2025
In 2017, after a competency hearing, Gille was found not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of dismemberment and mutilation of dead bodies and malicious destruction of tombs and monuments, court records show.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for insanity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insanity
Noun
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The legendary actor retired after being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
-
According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition — the second most common type of dementia behind Alzheimer’s disease — causes a gradual decline in cognitive function and often shares the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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To illustrate the absurdity of adhering too closely to genre conventions, Galloway describes a plot about an innocent girl who winds up in a strange town.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Drama, laughs, and a healthy dose of absurdity ensue.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
When an early reader asked me if the novel’s premise was madness or spirituality, my answer was: both.—
Tochi Eze
August 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
-
The LoDo madness began in the first inning when the Pirates sent 14 men to the plate and scored 10 runs on nine hits.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The child then reportedly ran, sparking hysteria on an escalator at the Vine City railway station as passengers crowded onto it.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
18 July 2025
-
Somewhere around the seventh inning, the hysteria really set in.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
Economists ascribe an inflationary quality to borrowing which implies impressive market stupidity.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
10 Aug. 2025
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Amid all the looming consciousness that our time on earth is precious, there are also specials unerringly devoted to utter stupidity, and even the comedians fixated on mortality are delivering life-affirming material, too.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
New providers decoupled payments from banks, focusing on speed, simplicity and APIs.—
Mustafa Khanwala,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Despite its make-do simplicity, bulldog gravy is delicious when made with flavorful fat, such as from smoky bacon.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In Eric Lin’s film, Liu plays Irene Chao, a Chinese-American single parent who is battling health issues, while caring for a son who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.—
John Bleasdale,
Variety,
15 Aug. 2025
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Nicholson, a recovering addict allegedly diagnosed with schizophrenia, has a history of mixing prescription medication with illicit substances, per the police report’s summary of Lawlor’s statements.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insanity. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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