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
David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 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
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
Yes, this is a script that figured a big-budget gangster-monster epic could also manage to fit a screwball buddy comedy.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 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
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
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Otherwise, those bobbleheads will look a little silly.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The spinoff will feature Beth Dutton riding horses more frequently, a change from her character's past trauma.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
In an announcement video posted to social media, Martin was joined by characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets, with a cameo from BTS.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Most big comedy shows at the fest had a strict no cellphones policy, Seinfeld was content with just reminding us that our friends are all sick of our stupid cellphone videos.—
Malina Saval,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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Don’t eat stupid food, don’t do music in the background.—
Terry Terrones,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Then there are oddballs – traction control – pretty rare in this class, alongside ABS, and a belt drive.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
11 May 2026
-
Wyck is an oddball — every town seems to have one.—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Let’s face it, life is full of foolish decisions.—
Jay Weissberg,
Variety,
14 May 2026
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Trump previously said his administration would have been foolish not to accept it.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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In any other historical period, proposing such a career trajectory would’ve seemed mildly insane — like if Peter Buck had followed up Fables of the Reconstruction by producing Whitney Houston instead of the Feelies.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2026
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For so much of the season, Rachel is low-key stoned, which can keep her at a remove, even when things are getting really insane.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screwball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwball. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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