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
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Recent Examples of zany
Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 Feb. 2025
In this high-concept action movie with a zany dark heart, labor exploitation hits a new low when workers, or at least their physical forms, become literally disposable.
—Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Oteri's zany, over-the-top characters and utter commitment to goofiness was a feat to behold.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2025
In a zany game that featured promotions like a penalty box for fouling players, doubled point values during specific stretches of the game and a 4-point line, Team Bonds won 66-55.
—Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zany
Adjective
Try to count all the zany knickknacks inside Northeast Pizza.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 Feb. 2025
In this high-concept action movie with a zany dark heart, labor exploitation hits a new low when workers, or at least their physical forms, become literally disposable.
—Beatrice Loayza, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Oteri's zany, over-the-top characters and utter commitment to goofiness was a feat to behold.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2025
In a zany game that featured promotions like a penalty box for fouling players, doubled point values during specific stretches of the game and a 4-point line, Team Bonds won 66-55.
—Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zany
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zany
Adjective
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Finally, its focus on physics means that things get silly pretty quickly, which makes for very shareable moments and clips.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
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Dozen Bakery off Nolensville Pike is celebrating this silliest of holidays with special pies and quiche.—
Adam Tamburin,
Axios,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Parsons called him a jealous clown, in so many words.—
Troy Renck,
The Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2025
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Who was the biggest Death of a Unicorn class clown?—
Jack Smart,
People.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Rachel does a great job conveying such collective endeavors and group dreaming, the whole circumference of people who support bands: friends of friends, drop-of-a-hat designers, stopgap agents, stall owners, dealers, grandparents with record collections, eccentrics without portfolios.—
Ian Penman,
Harper's Magazine,
19 Feb. 2025
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Would love to know what these career eccentrics make of the pomp and pageantry of the Grammys.—
August Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Undermining tax collections and the IRS goes hand in glove with Trump’s absurd belief that the U.S. federal government can or should try to fund itself primarily via tariffs.—
New York Daily News,
Twin Cities,
16 Mar. 2025
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The more absurd or humorous examples, like the animation of Irving that plays at his funeral, can also be disconcerting.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Once infused with the diabolical spirit, the guide is transformed into a buffoon, complete with a harlequin outfit—a mad joker and a dancing fool who does a little jig to the sound of a jazz trio.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
11 Mar. 2025
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But this harlequin moll can’t match Joker’s lunacy as either lawbreaker or musician.—
Armond White,
National Review,
29 Nov. 2024
Noun
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That’s not to mention the sheer psychological toll that slipping through the timestream or reliving events can have on a character’s psyche.—
Hayes Madsen,
Rolling Stone,
16 Mar. 2025
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Tartaglia voices multiple characters in the series.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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His is a sort of erudite buffoonery that consistently tap-dances between clever, self-aware, and patently stupid.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
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Ignoring those who served and buried honorably is stupid.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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No matter what your feelings are about Sternberg and his executive team today, these are not foolish people.—
John Romano,
Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2025
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There's nothing foolish about choosing beauty over practicality if that's what your heart desires.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Zany.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zany. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.
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