ZANINESS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

zaniness

noun

Definition of zaniness

as in insanity

lack of good sense or judgment what zaniness possessed you to take a mental health day when you knew that the head honcho would be visiting?

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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 zaniness Adding to the mind-blowing zaniness of the piece? — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 12 June 2026 As was the case in the first season as well, the finale escalates to a place of thrilling zaniness, with a little less ultimate emotional gravitas this time around. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026 But the draft traditionally ratchets up quarterback zaniness. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026 Some critics found the zaniness of Bale’s ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ number (an homage to Mel Brooks comedy Young Frankenstein) hysterically brilliant, while others didn’t get the joke. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2026 Plenty of moments on The Fall-Off remind of the hunger of his early mixtapes, the purposeful thrills of his 2010s hits, or even the misguided zaniness of KOD, though none materialize in meaningful doses. — Benny Sun, Pitchfork, 10 Feb. 2026 The frothy zaniness was, of course, one of Barry’s Hollywood calling cards, but there always were serious themes submerged underneath. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026 The ensemble comedy garnered critical praise for its steady stream of zaniness and quickly gained a reputation for deftly skewering suburban life while still maintaining a general sweetness of tone. — Will Harris, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026 Animated by an irreverent zaniness, Egger’s poetry fuses elements drawn from contemporary idiom and from lyric tradition to render a surreal world that interrogates existential questions about desire and grief. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for zaniness

Noun

That sentence would have sounded like insanity a few decades ago, but in the strange world of Hollywood in the 2020s, weirder might really be better.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026
So this is just a build-up, and there is such insanity coming.

— Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of insanity

Noun

Use these Prime Day leftovers as a chance to restock cleaning essentials before the holiday hosting craziness begins.

— Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
Jacksonville has a successful Triple-A franchise, the Jumbo Shrimp, that won its league last year, bringing fun theme nights, quirky mascots and between-inning craziness.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of craziness

Noun

Early on, Sakurai exploits the inherent absurdity of telling a story populated by so many ludicrous characters.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Unlike Gregor Samsa who is confined to his room after transforming into a huge insect, the protagonist still has to go to work, a dark and bleak absurdity that lays bare the alienation, isolation, and hypocrisy of modern life.

— Deadline, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of absurdity

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zanies

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“Zaniness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zaniness. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of zaniness

noun

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