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
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
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Recent Examples of screwball
Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
What is Valentine’s Day without a fizzy screwball comedy?
—New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Putting Mel Brooks in front of a camera guarantees some version of his signature screwball brilliance.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for screwball
Adjective
Despite its screwball plot, this book will have you in a puddle of tears!
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
What is Valentine’s Day without a fizzy screwball comedy?
—New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
That’s priceless in a screwball murder movie in which everyone’s soul is for sale.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Putting Mel Brooks in front of a camera guarantees some version of his signature screwball brilliance.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for screwball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwball
Adjective
-
Otherwise, those bobbleheads will look a little silly.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
-
If that strikes you as twee or downright silly, Olivia Newman‘s touchy-feely weepie is not on your wavelength.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
But what the New Yorker writer left behind is some of the finest prose of the 20th century, focusing primarily on the eccentrics, scalawags, seamen, and other denizens of New York’s dank corners.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
2 May 2026
-
The town’s overflowing with charming Midwest eccentrics, including a cocky mayor (Henry Winkler) and a welcoming barkeep (Lena Headey).—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s easier to accomplish the further the plot moves away from a diplomatic incident involving several national institutions and toward an occasionally absurd — but absorbing and well-paced — tale of individuals in over their heads.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
The attempt by right-wing activists to use the collapse of Spirit Airlines as a cudgel against the Democrats is ironic and absurd.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Cameron spoke of Kilcher’s influence on the character in an interview with French YouTube channel Konbini.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
The proud American blasted the heavy security presence and Chimaev’s character.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran — theyr’e not stupid.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
That was celebrated by the lefties as liberation, or something stupid like that.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Wyck is an oddball — every town seems to have one.—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
All the sun’s planets are oddballs.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
When a Republican says something foolish, network anchors react like a gator just crawled into the studio wearing a MAGA hat.—
Larry Clifton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
If Florida is worried about China’s rise, dismantling educational and cultural exchanges is a foolish response.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Each progressive Trolls movie has gotten more and more insane.—
Marah Eakin,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
-
To have air traffic controllers or the Transportation Security Administration to go without pay is insane and prejudicial to public safety.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screwball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwball. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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