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
Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 14 Feb. 2025
The general consensus is that the press conference is a zany viral moment, an odd thing for someone in a position of power in the government to do, but not anything deeper.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 13 Feb. 2025
At least that’s the case at Factory Obscura, a zany immersive experience that’s fun for all ages.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2025
The zany delights of Willem Dafoe: Talking Nosferatu, his own vampire turn, and his pure joy of acting
The prop was one of many prosthetic pieces that, combined together, contributed to Skarsgård’s almost unrecognizable transformation into the vampire.
—EW.com, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for zany
Adjective
However, my favorite is this zany commercial for Jiffy Pop... Airbags.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 14 Feb. 2025
The general consensus is that the press conference is a zany viral moment, an odd thing for someone in a position of power in the government to do, but not anything deeper.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 13 Feb. 2025
At least that’s the case at Factory Obscura, a zany immersive experience that’s fun for all ages.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2025
The zany delights of Willem Dafoe: Talking Nosferatu, his own vampire turn, and his pure joy of acting
The prop was one of many prosthetic pieces that, combined together, contributed to Skarsgård’s almost unrecognizable transformation into the vampire.
—EW.com, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for zany
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zany
Adjective
-
My long-distance boyfriend often addressed letters with silly names or in-jokes.—
A.S. King,
TIME,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Altuve, Espada and everyone in between are stressing the fluidity of a situation that once seemed silly but is transforming into one of baseball’s most fascinating storylines.—
Chandler Rome,
The Athletic,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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While the aforementioned gamer creep threatens to rob us of silly confrontational television, there’s been one thing stopping them and making season three entertaining: The Traitors picked this season are dysfunctional clowns.—
Alex Abad-Santos,
Vox,
6 Feb. 2025
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There was a good joke buried in that conceit: maybe only clowns spend as much time in the makeup chair as the drag artists that have provided Roan the inspiration for her primary look.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Foreman was one of the last living crossover theatrical eccentrics, an outsider artist whose philosophically rigorous work for downtown micro-audiences alternated with engagements at Lincoln Center and the Festival d’Automne, in Paris.—
Helen Shaw,
The New Yorker,
9 Jan. 2025
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My dedication, to help the waifs and strays and eccentrics of the music world together, continues to this day.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
11 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
To even suggest that my clients were somehow resistant to other points of view, acted secretly and/or abusively or threatened anyone’s job is patently false and frankly absurd.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
21 Feb. 2025
-
The notion that nonprofits or donors will pick up the financial slack is absurd.—
Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards,
Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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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
-
The doll, which is called the Witch Weaver, wears flared bell-bottoms, a gossamer harlequin blouse, gold waistcoat and crystal headpiece — taking inspiration from Reed’s signature design codes, personal style and even Lady Gaga.—
Violet Goldstone,
WWD,
21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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And Blue voiced the character named Kiara, who is the daughter of both.—
Caché McClay,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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Visually stunning, masterfully edited, and the culmination of seven years of filming, The Treasure Hunter crafts the portrait of a memorable and agonizingly familiar character.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Thank you Hallie for thinking of me and putting my name in your stupid brother's ear.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
24 Feb. 2025
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That would have been a stupid question just about anywhere else, but the exhibition was by Laura Owens, a painter with a penchant for trickery, and the venue was Matthew Marks Gallery in New York, whose press release for Owens’s latest outing offered little in the way of explanation.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Miami would be foolish to hold onto him as the team still looks to be multiple years away from contending for a postseason berth.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
23 Feb. 2025
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Today’s Wordle Etymology The word madly comes from mad (meaning insane, foolish, or intense in emotion) + -ly, a suffix used to form adverbs.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Zany.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zany. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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