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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of zany
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
13 May 2026
Nothing can top utterly zany inspiration of the postscript, which somehow involves a nuclear power plant and radioactive albino crocodiles.
—
Eric Kohn,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
Neville is there for pitch meetings, where the current cast sits on the floor of Michaels’ office and throws out their zaniest ideas.
—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
All of the characters are beautifully zany, which keeps this series from imploding.
—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zany
Adjective
And for those with a hankering for afternoon tea, the Upside Down tea party on Sundays is a zany take on a British tradition.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
13 May 2026
Nothing can top utterly zany inspiration of the postscript, which somehow involves a nuclear power plant and radioactive albino crocodiles.
—
Eric Kohn,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
Neville is there for pitch meetings, where the current cast sits on the floor of Michaels’ office and throws out their zaniest ideas.
—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
All of the characters are beautifully zany, which keeps this series from imploding.
—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zany
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zany
Adjective
-
Every player with a pulse had six suitors throwing silly money around.
-
Some scenes in the movie are light and silly, including those pairing Maddie with a lesbian friend, played by Kate Berlant, who clearly loves her.
Noun
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The group demonstrated near the Washington Monument and was met by a few counter protestors, one of which played clown music throughout the majority of the demonstration.
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But many did not, as the 1981 episodes tell the grim tale of a young girl named Sylvia (Barash), who is raped by a stranger wearing a horrifying clown mask.
Noun
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With its loose ends and digressions, Dream Me a Dream stays true to those idiosyncratic instincts while retaining enough of the welcoming glow of Dance of Love to make this an affecting farewell from an endearing eccentric.
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The eccentric cuz is quick to try and help Bobby solve problems, which often gets him into trouble, but ultimately pushes him out of his shell.
Adjective
-
And no, that was NOT OutKick or FOX who wrote that stupid headline.
-
The thing about House of the Dragon is that everything really is quite stupid.
Noun
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Colorado potato beetles target potato plants, while harlequin beetles do damage to brassica family plants like kale, cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli.
-
For the event, Kaling donned a strapless Elie Saab gown covered in crystal embroidery, which included a harlequin pattern and a sheer skirt.
Noun
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There was a small card with a graphic that pictured Wiley walking in the middle of Bluey and Bingo, two characters from the show.
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Her refusal to sugarcoat the interior and exterior lives of her characters, whether enslaved or traumatized by the past — by events in American history — was purposeful.
Adjective
-
The 41-year-old is still an elite NBA player, which is still an absurd reality to consider.
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The thesis rests on a claim that would have sounded absurd a year ago.
Noun
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Many audiences may recognize him best as the shirtless, nunchuck-wielding oddball in the coming-of-age classic Ghost World (2001).
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Black Rock Coalition bands like funk-metal group 24-7 Spyz and shoegaze oddballs the Veldt—particularly when the Veldt’s murkiness resolves into a major-key chorus.
Cite this Entry
“Zany.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zany. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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