as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
a zany plan to drive cross-country on a motorized scooter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in clown
a comically dressed performer (as at a circus) who entertains with playful tricks and ridiculous behavior
hired a zany to entertain the children at the birthday party
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits
one of the challenges of hosting a radio call-in program is preventing the zanies from completely taking over the discussion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of zany
Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Feb. 2026
For Donald Faison, stepping back into the shoes of Turk — the lovable surgeon who for about a decade was one half of the zaniest bromance on television — was like riding a bike.
—Radhika Marya, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
No further details were unveiled but, as always, expect the most zany and dangerous stunts from the Jackass gang.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Emily Ratajkowski's interpretation of Marge Simpson from The Simpsons at Klum's 2015 Heidi Halloween was perfectly zany for the occasion.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zany
Adjective
Pinky Swear Pinky Swear is the zany love child of a contemporary art gallery and a groovy cocktail lounge—think the multisensory cacophony of the immersive art experience Meow Wolf.
—Andrea Strong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Feb. 2026
For Donald Faison, stepping back into the shoes of Turk — the lovable surgeon who for about a decade was one half of the zaniest bromance on television — was like riding a bike.
—Radhika Marya, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
No further details were unveiled but, as always, expect the most zany and dangerous stunts from the Jackass gang.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Emily Ratajkowski's interpretation of Marge Simpson from The Simpsons at Klum's 2015 Heidi Halloween was perfectly zany for the occasion.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zany
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zany
Adjective
-
Just cultivating and just feeding that division and those just absolute silly fights.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The point is not to sell her business, not to get more followers, not to create a cult of her own; the point is looking at interpersonal dynamics, getting into conflicts, resuming those conflicts, and then sometimes doing silly things after drinking too much rosé.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Christopher Kosakowski, United States, 2025 A circus clown celebrating his birthday alone receives a mysterious gift box harboring an antique zoetrope that spins his world into mayhem.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The same clown who is owned by Vladimir Putin.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On her trail are a Báthory relative who is vegetarian (Thomas Schubert), his psychotherapist (Lars Eidinger), two vampirologists, a police inspector and a gallery of eccentrics.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Catherine O’Hara portrayed ridiculous eccentrics with equal parts hilarity and humanity.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
End these stupid, senseless wars.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Most of the films that came after are ridiculous and stupid.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If the Brits are anything to go by, feather boas and harlequin jumpsuits are out, and French-girl flats are in.—
Alice Newbold,
Vogue,
28 Feb. 2026
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Rather than the usual crisscross pattern, Holmes’ sweater features solid block diamonds in bold colors for a harlequin look that is honestly a breath of fresh air.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Gosling is a beautiful crier, and his character’s journey seems destined to end in tears.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
In the movie’s fuzzy metaphysics, Shelley wills herself into the consciousness of a character named Ida (also played by Buckley), a young woman angling for survival in 1930s Chicago — a colorful, dangerous world of bawdy lotharios and lethal gangsters.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The government thinks this is absurd.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The movie is also surreal, absurd and crowd-pleasingly funny.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In Season 1, eight years after an unforgivable mistake nukes his promising college football career, hotshot quarterback Russ Holliday (Powell) tries to resurrect his dreams by disguising himself as Chad Powers — a talented oddball who walks on to the struggling South Georgia Catfish.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2026
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The Sun Belt is the only real exception, having now defined itself as FBS’ actual Southeastern conference, partly by losing its former oddballs like Idaho and New Mexico State.—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zany.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zany. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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