as in absurd
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of screwball
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Here, Johnson applies a screwball procedural framework to a true story of tech-world boom and bust, building his movie on a clash of values and personalities.
—A.a. Dowd, Chron, 12 May 2023
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2025
Since then, themes have included crime thrillers with La Jolla connections, screwball sparring matches and Hollywood classics.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for screwball
Adjective
Invariably in screwball plots like this, the precious cargo ends up in the wrong hands.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Here, Johnson applies a screwball procedural framework to a true story of tech-world boom and bust, building his movie on a clash of values and personalities.
—A.a. Dowd, Chron, 12 May 2023
Noun
Purple and fluoro-flecked Fair Isle clothed Anna Sui’s 1930s screwball comedy heroines.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2025
Since then, themes have included crime thrillers with La Jolla connections, screwball sparring matches and Hollywood classics.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for screwball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwball
Adjective
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Interestingly, the Vance memes were far more surreal and absurd than South Park’s caricature, which retained the simple, bloated design of the first few images.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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These movies are brilliantly written, but above all will do anything to get a laugh, no matter how silly, how absurd, how ridiculous — how stupid.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Ra’s decades-long adherence to this personal mythology, along with his air of serene bemusement and his extravagant robes and headdresses, led to his popular image as a colorful eccentric.—
Ekow Eshun
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
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Other characters include outcasts, visionaries and eccentrics — all of whom live on the margins as unseen — a former priest, a girl trapped in working her family’s candy stand, a woman who learned preaching from her brother and is a caretaker for her dying housemate.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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Similar to the first film, families will enjoy silly slapstick mixed with great chemistry between Lohan and Curtis, who are just as good together.—
Katie Grant,
Parents,
7 Aug. 2025
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Here’s a look at the four silliest awards of the night.—
Vivian Kwarm,
New York Daily News,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The internet is ablaze with Reddit forums, magazine articles and blog posts detailing why main character Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) is the worst and how the writers disrespected the original.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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Chiesa has emerged as a bit of a cult character at Liverpool.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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No Broward program can possibly be as wasteful and downright stupid as the Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS).—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Aug. 2025
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This sounds very stupid, but there’s an idea in my mind.—
David Mack,
Vulture,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Season 3 kicks off in September with fights exploding and movie icon Samuel L. Jackson joining TV's oddball Manfredi crime family.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
30 July 2025
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First offered in a passenger car by Mercedes-Benz back in 1974, the five-cylinder engine has always been a bit of an automotive oddball.—
Bradley Iger,
ArsTechnica,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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With the season on the line as the Bronx Bombers now sit in third place in the American League East division, Aaron Boone would be foolish to not pull Williams from the closer role for the second time this season and hand it over to David Bednar.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Aug. 2025
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This new adventure will take players to the heart of Italy where ancient legends and sinister cults promise danger to anyone brave or foolish enough to dig deeper.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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One of many smoking guns in an artillery of reasons that doomed the Max original to cancelation long ago, Che was criticized endlessly after Season 2.—
IndieWire Staff,
IndieWire,
16 Aug. 2025
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His mix of covers and originals was strong enough then to land him a spot on American Idol’s Hollywood Week in the show’s 20th season, though he was eliminated before making it in front of the cameras.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Screwball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwball. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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