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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in absurdity
a foolish act or idea
everyone laughed at the latest insanity from the town eccentric
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 insanity
Exantus was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity but was sentenced for assault in the 2015 case involving 6-year-old Logan Tipton.
—
Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
Despite her confession, Schabusiness entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity during her trial.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Because of his mental illness, Gein pled not guilty to the two killings, citing insanity.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Gein was found guilty of murder, but in a follow-up proceeding was ruled to be not guilty — again by reason of insanity.
—Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insanity
Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
Despite her confession, Schabusiness entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity during her trial.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Because of his mental illness, Gein pled not guilty to the two killings, citing insanity.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Gein was found guilty of murder, but in a follow-up proceeding was ruled to be not guilty — again by reason of insanity.
—Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insanity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insanity
Noun
-
The 83-year-old man’s family believes Theo is suffering from the beginning stages of undiagnosed dementia, according to WTVR.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
People between 50 and 60 years old who got six hours of sleep nightly had a higher risk of dementia later in life, while older adults who didn't sleep well at night, but napped often, had a greater risk of dying within the next five years.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Protesters have slammed the notions and multiple attendees wore inflatable frog and animal costumes to point to the absurdity of the claims of danger.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
18 Oct. 2025
-
These acts of radical playfulness—the inflatable dance parties, the music, the absurdity—have become part of the city’s moral vocabulary.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Orphan Master’s Son, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2013, follows a North Korean man struggling to survive amid the cruelty and madness of a modern totalitarian regime.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
-
No orgies, no drug madness, no trouble with the law.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As fear and prejudice take hold, Lidia and her family must navigate the growing hysteria surrounding queerness, disease and desire in a deeply patriarchal society.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Like a faulty fire hydrant, or a vacuum cleaner whizzing up and down with the uncontrollable hysteria of a feral raccoon, our directive was to suck up as many clicks as possible through every angle imaginable.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Snack Homiez’ back-and-forth, soothing in its stupidity, reminded me of this Kate McKinnon-Aidy Bryant two-hander from 2021.—
Charu Sinha,
Vulture,
19 Oct. 2025
-
In Del Toro’s film, the creature isn’t rejected for his loathsome appearance but for his apparent stupidity.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Shot over two days with striking simplicity, the film reflects Alshamsi’s gift for emotional nuance and cultural reflection.—
Essie Assibu,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
-
This family boat ride is the kind that can be easily overlooked due to its simplicity.—
Zachary Laks,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Watch the interview on YouTube and the clip about managing his schizophrenia below.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Ellis has a history of schizophrenia, and her defense attorneys entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, WKYC reported.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Advertisement Aster keenly satirizes Joe’s idiocy in the face of social upheaval through the iconography of Westerns.—
Robert Daniels,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
-
But my naivete and idiocy about what this was going to take was staggering to me just six months later.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insanity. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share