1
as in psychotic
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind
a cuckoo woman who wandered around town carefully gathering up useless trash
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in foolish
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
offered a completely cuckoo suggestion for using the defunct strip mall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lunatic
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
one cuckoo at the campground tried to boil soup in a plastic cup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in goose
a silly flighty person
didn't want to be among those cuckoos who race around the mall the day before Christmas
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 cuckoo
Frank Pallotta, CNN, 27 Sep. 2022
By peeping on cuckoo chicks during development, McClelland and her colleagues have homed in on one of the major strategies these birds, and several others like them, use to achieve their super-swole status at such a young age.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2021
Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 14 Oct. 2024
The dense jungle of the foothills of the Star Mountains, where annual rainfall is among the highest in the world, is home to chats, parrots, cuckoos, and the rare baya weaver.
—David Escribano, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cuckoo
Adjective
If that wasn’t enough, the internet went deeply cuckoo trying to figure out if Styles spat on co-star Chris Pine’s lap during the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
—Frank Pallotta, CNN, 27 Sep. 2022
By peeping on cuckoo chicks during development, McClelland and her colleagues have homed in on one of the major strategies these birds, and several others like them, use to achieve their super-swole status at such a young age.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2021
Noun
Two individual cuckoos were sighted or recorded in two separate locations on July 6 and July 25.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 14 Oct. 2024
The dense jungle of the foothills of the Star Mountains, where annual rainfall is among the highest in the world, is home to chats, parrots, cuckoos, and the rare baya weaver.
—David Escribano, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for cuckoo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cuckoo
Adjective
-
The counselor also told police Trotman had had a previous psychotic break in which he was found wandering the woods.—
Peter Hermann,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2023
-
Lewis prescribed Price anti-psychotic medication after a mental health referral Sept. 1.—
Thomas Saccente,
Arkansas Online,
17 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
My big mistake was in not challenging from the stage the foolish few who booed.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
31 Mar. 2025
-
While tailback isn’t a need, only foolish franchises pass up the opportunity to add generational talents like Jeanty.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Costs nothing, gooses ratings, good TV. Mark Cuban @mcuban.bsky.social · 5h File your taxes using IRS Direct File, a free, secure, accurate and accessible product from the IRS.—
Bluesky Social,
Bluesky Social,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Not anymore, not since the cost of eggs has soared beyond the price of the golden ones that a certain goose once laid.—
Lincoln Anderson,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
With his shock of spiky hair and adrenaline rushes, Smith turns a corporate villain into a lunatic new-wave frontman.—
Charles McNultyTheater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2023
-
The first personality is the lunatic, chaotic artist, with no limits.—
John Bleasdale,
Variety,
8 Dec. 2022
Adjective
-
Amelia soon decides that stupid boys (and humans in general) aren't worth keeping around.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Sharing war plans outside U.S. government systems is the kind of offense that is almost too stupid to commit.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Unfortunately, building massive scale factories here in the US to replace overseas production would be a fool’s errand.—
Robert C. Wolcott,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
After a brief fool’s spring, New York City plunged once again into a cold snap.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
It was shot in portrait because it was shot in Instagram by and for a woman who was losing her mind in quarantine and had fully let the sillies take the wheel.—
Ego Nwodim,
TIME,
12 Feb. 2025
-
Some more sillies from last night’s GRAMMY nominees reception.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Contrary to popular belief, peanuts are actually not nuts.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
30 Mar. 2023
-
Nonetheless, April 5, 2022, was nuts.—
Childs Walker,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Cuckoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cuckoo. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share