zaniness

Definition of zaninessnext

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 zaniness Adding to the mind-blowing zaniness of the piece? Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 12 June 2026 As was the case in the first season as well, the finale escalates to a place of thrilling zaniness, with a little less ultimate emotional gravitas this time around. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026 But the draft traditionally ratchets up quarterback zaniness. Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026 Some critics found the zaniness of Bale’s ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ number (an homage to Mel Brooks comedy Young Frankenstein) hysterically brilliant, while others didn’t get the joke. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2026 Plenty of moments on The Fall-Off remind of the hunger of his early mixtapes, the purposeful thrills of his 2010s hits, or even the misguided zaniness of KOD, though none materialize in meaningful doses. Benny Sun, Pitchfork, 10 Feb. 2026 The frothy zaniness was, of course, one of Barry’s Hollywood calling cards, but there always were serious themes submerged underneath. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026 The ensemble comedy garnered critical praise for its steady stream of zaniness and quickly gained a reputation for deftly skewering suburban life while still maintaining a general sweetness of tone. Will Harris, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026 Animated by an irreverent zaniness, Egger’s poetry fuses elements drawn from contemporary idiom and from lyric tradition to render a surreal world that interrogates existential questions about desire and grief. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zaniness
Noun
  • Colt did not have any signs of insanity, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, Richards said.
    Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • This case involved a client who, after years of competency litigation, was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a state forensic hospital.
    Schnelle Tonge, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • Except none of it was true — and the real perpetrator behind the madness wasn’t who anyone suspected.
    Katie Mather, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
  • Their win was a victory for method over the madness that always threatened to be Argentina’s undoing.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • Apple's Bob Borchers emphasized the plan's simplicity and flexibility for customers.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • But Morton chafes against such stark and incriminating simplicity.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 July 2026
Noun
  • Laughter reframes these experiences from tragedy to absurdity, helping individuals push back against negative aging stereotypes.
    Jann E. Freed, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • And there’s an absurdity to that scene, which Daeron is feeling just in the shock of it in itself.
    Jennifer Maas, Variety, 27 July 2026
Noun
  • Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, 1982 Before the kids, the craziness and the reality show, the head-over-heels Brits tied the knot in Maui, Hawaii.
    Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
  • The forecast for Thursday calls for craziness.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • And with those road destinations, there’s plenty of room for late-season winter weather wackiness.
    Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 13 May 2026
  • These flashes of melancholy or yearning give the record complexity and depth, as well as stopping it from devolving into wackiness.
    Alastair Shuttleworth, Pitchfork, 2 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Zaniness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zaniness. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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