wacky

adjective

ˈwa-kē 

variants or less commonly whacky

wackier also whackier; wackiest also whackiest

: absurdly or amusingly eccentric or irrational

wacky ideas

a wacky comedian

wackily

ˈwa-kə-lē 

adverb

wackiness

ˈwa-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• bizarre
• bizarro
• cranky
• crazy
• curious
• eccentric
• erratic
• far-out
• funky
• funny
• kinky
• kooky
• kookie
• odd
• off-kilter
• off-the-wall
• offbeat
• out-of-the-way
• outlandish
• outré
• peculiar
• quaint
• queer
• queerish
• quirky
• remarkable
• rum [chiefly British]
• screwy
• spaced-out
• strange
• way-out
• weird
• weirdo
• wild

Examples of wacky in a Sentence

My wacky aunt takes a swim before the lake freezes every winter.

the wacky world of his imagination

Recent Examples on the Web

That wacky rock formation with the fake waterfall was still behind center field, where seats should have been. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024

When customers walk into the shop they’re greeted by ghoulish masks of past presidents, a wall of wacky, colorful wigs and an impressive collection of stick-on mutton chops, mustaches and goatees in a glass counter. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 17 Sep. 2024

From a Strawberry Shortcake to whatever the heck a Leaf Sheep is, check out the wacky new costumes taking the stage this season. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 10 Sep. 2024

Her shock is conveyed in a progression that pinballs from C-sharp major to A major by way of an E dominant seventh—a wacky jolt worthy of Berlioz. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from English dialect whacky fool

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

wacky

adjective

ˈwak-ē 

wackier; wackiest

: amusing and very strange

wackily

ˈwak-ə-lē

adverb

wackiness

ˈwak-ē-nəs

noun