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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of zany
Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 15 Jan. 2026
Gagini, Palermo Occupying the brooding former studio of the 16th-century sculptor Antonello Gagini, this Palermo restaurant’s antiquity greatly contrasts the modern, slightly zany dishes on the tasting menu.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 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
Richardson even wore a dress that fit her character’s zany persona—a sheer leopard-print mini trimmed with ruffles of white lace and complemented by a stripe of red plaid.
—Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 15 Jan. 2026
Gagini, Palermo Occupying the brooding former studio of the 16th-century sculptor Antonello Gagini, this Palermo restaurant’s antiquity greatly contrasts the modern, slightly zany dishes on the tasting menu.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 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
-
Maybe the Pac-12 and Mountain West will look silly for not buying in, then watch as the NFC West bids against the Premier League and Marvel Cinematic Universe for the Hornets.—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Since then, the fizzy dance challenge has exploded on TikTok, with tons of fans re-creating the clip’s silly dance moves in their kitchens, parking garages, living rooms, Times Square and hospital corridors.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Austrian director Adrian Goiginger’s film Four Minus Three, the true story of a professional clown struck by tragedy, has won the Europa Cinemas Label as best European film in the Panorama section of the Berlinale.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Feb. 2026
-
There will be a clown, face painting and balloon art for the kids.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 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
-
But maybe Johnson isn’t stupid.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Even in contemporary political and intellectual discourse, there remains an attachment to a particular stupid southern conservatism, the ideocratic confederacy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Like an ex-NatGeo marine videographer, who can film guests drift diving through walls of harlequin sweetlips, as if the spirit of Jacques Cousteau was puppeteering their wetsuits.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Over the past week, a slew of cinematic videos of celebrities and characters in absurd situations have gone viral online, with one commonality –– they were created using a new artificial intelligence tool from Chinese developer ByteDance, sparking anxiety over the fast-evolving capabilities of AI.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Transfers have been cancelled if, as Foster says, a player’s character is judged not to be a good fit.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Over the past week, a slew of cinematic videos of celebrities and characters in absurd situations have gone viral online, with one commonality –– they were created using a new artificial intelligence tool from Chinese developer ByteDance, sparking anxiety over the fast-evolving capabilities of AI.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
What was turbulent and confused in me came out as absurd and ornate in him.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Jack and Rose are oddballs, neither fitting into their respective societal slots.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Zany.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zany. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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