as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
she's always off on some screwball plan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits
a screwball who liked to save lint and bits of string
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples of screwball in a Sentence
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 21 May 2020
These two also know how to banter like they’ve been thrown into a Golden Age screwball comedy.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 May 2020
Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2024
The romantic screwball comedy, which debuted in 1934, put the Cohns’ foundering studio on the map.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for screwball 
Adjective
Little wonder the screwball comedy is practically a lost genre.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 21 May 2020
These two also know how to banter like they’ve been thrown into a Golden Age screwball comedy.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 May 2020
Noun
Television ‘English Teacher’ makes the grade with a sweet, funny look at high school educators
Sept. 2, 2024
The daffy-but-sharp best buddy of Alvarez’s Evan Marquez, Gwen is infused with can-do optimism and an energy that would be right at home in a classic Hollywood screwball comedy.
—Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2024
The romantic screwball comedy, which debuted in 1934, put the Cohns’ foundering studio on the map.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for screwball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwball
Adjective
-
But while the 118 is able to save both Celeste and her mother-in-law’s final resting place, a smug Trent trips and drops the vase, an appropriate punchline to a very silly cold open.Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
-
Read more Today's talkers Take a break from the election with these silly, happy shows.Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The father and the mother are played by two of modern cinema’s most supremely talented eccentrics, Michael Shannon and Tilda Swinton.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2024
-
Designers traditionally present themselves in public as preening demigods or fussy, difficult eccentrics, but neither is the vibe that Porte Jacquemus gives off.Nathan Heller, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
This absurd claim is an extension of their relentless obsession to remove checks and balances within our government.Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 5 Nov. 2024
-
The three books so far are deeply romantic, gorgeously tragic, smart as hell, and written in this absurd baroque, irreverent language.Constance Grady, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
His character, Callum Drift, is definitely the head of an organization called ELF, which stands for Enforcement, Logistics, and Fortification (there are multiple cute little acronyms like that in this movie), and which is basically the North Pole’s answer to the Secret Service.Alison Willmore, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
-
Some of these data collections, such as character sheets, are for your reference only.PCMAG, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Sofia has taken Francis, and Sal Maroni is right on her heels with a bunch of his goons to give Oz a few whacks with one of his own stupid golf clubs, then down to the trolley station to take over the Bliss operation.Andy Andersen, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
-
The risk, of course, is that the North Koreans will learn what those Russian marines learned recently: that their commanders are cruel, ignorant or both—and that following stupid orders from uncaring officers is bad for your health.David Axe, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The authors concluded that any attempt to create a synthetic substance to replace the mud — something Major League Baseball has explored — would be foolish.Evan Bush, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
-
To end its losing tradition, Colorado has to stop making foolish choices with its payroll.Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Tauruses will go crazy for something chic, functional, and soft to the touch.Meghan Rose, Glamour, 9 Feb. 2023
-
Before getting into the chaos of episode 5, that episode 4 cliff hanger was crazy.Calie Schepp, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
The sight of a covey of desert quail fills me with a mad, superhuman strength.Jack O’Connor, Outdoor Life, 6 Nov. 2024
-
Then, like clockwork, a bunch of Democrats got mad.Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near screwball
Cite this Entry
“Screwball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwball. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share