screwball 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of screwballnext
as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment she's always off on some screwball plan

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

screwball

2 of 2

noun

ˈskrü-ˌbȯl How to pronounce screwball (audio)
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits a screwball who liked to save lint and bits of string

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 screwball
Adjective
The alternately suspenseful and silly scene nicely sets up the tone for this new season, which is infused with references to classic Westerns as much as screwball comedies. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026 Of all contemporary Gallic stars, Lellouche and Demoustier already feel slightly out of time, their features recalling both silent-era performers and screwball archetypes. — Ben Croll, IndieWire, 12 May 2026
Noun
The screwball comedy is one of the great gifts that 1930s Hollywood gave us, but that genre didn’t win too many awards. — Jordan Hoffman, Vanity Fair, 16 Mar. 2026 That’s priceless in a screwball murder movie in which everyone’s soul is for sale. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for screwball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwball
  1. silly
  2. eccentric
  3. absurd
  4. character
  5. stupid
  6. oddball
  7. foolish
  8. original
Adjective
  • Every season of Strange New Worlds has featured at least one episode that emphasizes Star Trek’s silly side (and this may not be the last such outing in season four).
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The silly yellow fruit that became a part of their culture was freighted, from the start, with suggestive meaning.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of silly
Noun
  • With its loose ends and digressions, Dream Me a Dream stays true to those idiosyncratic instincts while retaining enough of the welcoming glow of Dance of Love to make this an affecting farewell from an endearing eccentric.
    — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026
  • The eccentric cuz is quick to try and help Bobby solve problems, which often gets him into trouble, but ultimately pushes him out of his shell.
    — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026
Definition of eccentric
Adjective
  • The show explores the darkly absurd side of modern-day male friendship.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Just absurd, and all happening in his first full season in the majors.
    — Matt Piper, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of absurd
Noun
  • The character at its center is Bret Easton Ellis — played here by Igby Rigney, who does look eerily like the author’s high-school yearbook photo — and the book and series are largely inspired by Ellis’s real-life senior year at the Buckley School.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The show has new characters and a fresh storyline for Los Angeles.
    — Hunter Sowards, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of character
Adjective
  • Parametric modeling, especially when weighted down with decades of AutoCAD’s stupid UI/UX choices, was even harder than programming.
    — Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2026
  • The simplest explanation is that Vance believes his voters are stupid.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
Definition of stupid
Noun
  • The Ramones stood on stage not as rock gods or unattainable heroes, but as oddballs, misfits, and fellow outcasts in torn jeans.
    — Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
  • The Wylkes Society’s members include many of the amiable oddballs Miles has met around town.
    — Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2026
Definition of oddball
Adjective
  • Drawing definitive conclusions from pre-season is foolish — but Lacey has shown his close control, pace, and scored an excellent goal in the previous friendly against Rosenborg.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Johnson continued this week to push for his foolish and counterproductive desire to impose a $33-per-month tax on each Chicago job generated by the city’s largest private-sector employers.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
Definition of foolish
Noun
  • While nothing compares to the Hartford Whalers threads, the early-aughts uniforms improved on the original from 1997-98 with black outlining on the nameplate letters.
    — The Athletic NHL Staff, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Being able to rebuild it, remake it, and stay true to the original was incredibly important to all of us.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 July 2026
Definition of original

Browse Nearby Words

screw around
screwball
screwballs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Screwball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwball. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on screwball

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about screwball

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