ZANY (zanier, zaniest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: zanier    , zaniest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does zany mean? 

• ZANY (noun)
  The noun ZANY has 2 senses:

1. a buffoon in one of the old comedies; imitates others for ludicrous effect

2. a man who is a stupid incompetent fool

  Familiarity information: ZANY used as a noun is rare.

• ZANY (adjective)
  The adjective ZANY has 2 senses:

1. ludicrous, foolish

2. like a clown

  Familiarity information: ZANY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ZANY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A buffoon in one of the old comedies; imitates others for ludicrous effect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("zany" is a kind of...):

buffoon; clown; goof; goofball; merry andrew (a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior)

Derivation:

zany (like a clown)

zany (ludicrous, foolish)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A man who is a stupid incompetent fool

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

bozo; cuckoo; fathead; goof; goofball; goose; jackass; twat; zany

Hypernyms ("zany" is a kind of...):

fool; muggins; sap; saphead; tomfool (a person who lacks good judgment)

Derivation:

zany (like a clown)

zany (ludicrous, foolish)

• ZANY (adjective)

Comparative: zanier   
Superlative: zaniest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Ludicrous, foolish

Synonyms:

goofy; silly; wacky; whacky; zany

Context example:

some wacky plan for selling more books

Similar:

foolish (devoid of good sense or judgment)

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

Derivation:

zany (a man who is a stupid incompetent fool)

zany (a buffoon in one of the old comedies; imitates others for ludicrous effect)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Like a clown

Synonyms:

buffoonish; clownish; clownlike; zany

Context example:

a zany sense of humor

Similar:

humorous; humourous (full of or characterized by humor)

Derivation:

zany (a man who is a stupid incompetent fool)

zany (a buffoon in one of the old comedies; imitates others for ludicrous effect)