screwy

adjective

ˈskrü-ē How to pronounce screwy (audio)
Definition of screwynext
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion the counterfeit bills are poorly done and would look screwy to even the untrained eye

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 screwy In Cat’s Cradle, Vonnegut tweaks this trope to fit his signature, screwy black comedy. — M. L. Rio, The Atlantic, 19 Nov. 2025 Pricing for five or fewer devices is a little screwy. — PC Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 In the screwy arithmetic of my mind, more time meant more aspiration. — Dan Leach july 3, Literary Hub, 3 July 2025 And higher in the atmosphere things can be even screwier—and on a larger scale. — Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for screwy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwy
  1. bizarre
  2. weird
  3. strange
  4. funny
  5. odd
  6. erratic
  7. peculiar
  8. curious
Adjective
  • When this place is eventually gone — a phrase that feels truly bizarre given the environment this summer and the half-century preceding it — the lasting images will be the seas of red.
    — Sam McDowell Updated July 3, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
  • Continue reading … 'DEEPLY WEIRD' — CNN panel's bizarre 'read as Jewish' comment about a senator draws fierce blowback.
    — , FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • The bet, which happened on Polymarket, isn’t weird for the wild world of prediction markets.
    — Jon Sarlin, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • The weird, vaguely threatening statement doesn’t lay the groundwork for a productive night, so naturally the vibes are just all off as the boys hang, so much so that Christian regrets planning it altogether.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 July 2026
Definition of weird
Adjective
  • Others may miss the warmth of a person who can read the room, handle a strange request or help when something goes wrong.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Canada coach Jesse Marsch gives strange interview after Morocco World Cup loss.
    — Alex Connor, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • The obligatory army of A-list funny people (Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, Dave Chappelle operating at minimal annoyingness) assembles to praise him in this two-part doc from directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
  • The spunky comedy streaming service couldn’t hit the mainstream enough to attract voters, despite some very funny programming.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 July 2026
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • The idea is to make healthy eating doable, especially for an audience with odd hours and high-stress jobs.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Put those two next to each other and the picture is odd and clarifying at once.
    — Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of odd
Adjective
  • On the other, gig workers face manipulative algorithmic payouts, erratic schedules and the skyrocketing costs of keeping their cars on the road.
    — Christopher S. Tang, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
  • The rains, once predictable, now arrive in erratic bursts that dump extreme amounts of water in short periods, followed by dry spells.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of erratic
Adjective
  • So this peculiar behavior on social media was out of character.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • The scene between him and TC (Sarah Swire) presents viewers with a peculiar question—what should music written and produced by a vampire sound like?
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of peculiar
Adjective
  • Though older and a bit more modern than the iconically curious and headstrong original, she has not been updated with contemporary attitudes.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • For over 157 years, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has been the South’s source for culture, community and news for curious minds.
    — AJC.com, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of curious

Browse Nearby Words

screwups
screwy
scribble
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Screwy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwy. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of xeric

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All