1
as in dementia
a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life
his incurable insanity requires that he spend the rest of his life in a mental hospital
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in absurdity
a foolish act or idea
everyone laughed at the latest insanity from the town eccentric
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in madness
lack of good sense or judgment
had the insanity to think that taking over a government building in protest of our foreign policy was a good idea
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 insanity
Mad About the Boy, despite its title, is really about the insanity that comes from trying and failing and eventually moving on with life.
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025
If signed into law, divorces would only be allowed in cases of abandonment, gross neglect, extreme cruelty, habitual drunkenness, insanity for a period of five years, adultery, unknown pregnancy and fraudulent contract.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025
One thing is for sure: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is insanity.
—Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
If Laws is found not guilty by reason of insanity, she will be committed to a state hospital for an extended period, News4SA reports.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insanity
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025
If signed into law, divorces would only be allowed in cases of abandonment, gross neglect, extreme cruelty, habitual drunkenness, insanity for a period of five years, adultery, unknown pregnancy and fraudulent contract.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025
One thing is for sure: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is insanity.
—Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
If Laws is found not guilty by reason of insanity, she will be committed to a state hospital for an extended period, News4SA reports.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insanity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insanity
Noun
-
Jim Broadbent, 'Iris' (2002) Featuring Kate Winslet and Judi Dench as famed novelist Iris Murdoch in her younger and older years, the biopic is also a moving drama about the effects of dementia on patients and loved ones.—
Brian Truitt,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Common signs of dementia, according to an article by Dr. Joanna Woodnutt for Catster, include wandering around aimlessly; going to the wrong door to go out, or to find food; struggling find their way out; becoming stressed even in places that should be familiar; and going potty in the wrong place.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
An opening scene lays out the grotesque absurdity of the situation, as office manager Joy (Christiane Paul) delineates between culinary content and animal abuse in a meeting.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
9 Mar. 2025
-
The recent launch of Donald Trump’s self-proclaimed $TRUMP meme coin, which appeared to be an attempt to capitalize on his second inauguration, only reinforced the absurdity of this trend.—
Becca Bratcher,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The peaceful scene of pandas resting in a meadow is quickly disturbed by Jack Black, Jason Momoa, and Sebastian Hansen hurtling to the ground at full speed with a bucket of video-game accurate water, and from there, all kinds of madness ensues.—
Billie Melissa,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
-
And when her brother-in-law, Stanley (Marlon Brando), rapes her, her descent into madness was made all the more vivid and believable by Leigh's precise depiction of vulnerability and instability.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
We should not be caught up in the hysteria and external pressures distracting us from our path.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Feb. 2025
-
In 19th-century Paris at the Salpêtrière Hospital, patients were hypnotized onstage to reproduce the symptoms of hysteria for public audiences.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
And that's where a consideration of stupidity is essential.—
John Baldoni,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
-
But somehow my stupidity and negligence caused the fire.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The sandals also earn high marks for their simplicity and versatility.—
BestReviews,
The Mercury News,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Phase 4: Making photo selects and designing the story Given the photographs' profound presence, our design approach prioritized intentional restraint and simplicity, aiming to create a supportive framework that would elevate the content.—
Caroline Newton,
Bon Appétit,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
However, schizophrenia itself tends to manifest in late adolescence/early adulthood.—
Tom Hawking,
Popular Science,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Bristol Myers Squibb : Patience is required with the drugmaker because its new schizophrenia drug, Cobenfy, is still in the early innings.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insanity. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share