Skip to main content
barmy

barmy

3 8.2
Being silly and slightly crazy in a way that seems funny and harmless
  • adjective
  • /ˈbɑːmi/
  • UK
translation icon : loco
  • Maybe he's just barmy like the rest of us?
  • barmy old

Examples

Synonyms

wacky
vsbarmy
  • Informal
98 5.9

Odd in a funny or silly way

is similar but centres more on plain foolishness than amusement style
loony
vsbarmy
  • Offensive
58 8.2

Strange and silly in a way people call crazy

is lighter and more amusing, not deeply unsound
nutty
vsbarmy
  • Informal
55 7.2

Being a little crazy in a funny or strange way

is more about gentle foolishness than clear madness
kooky
vsbarmy
  • Informal
26 8.0

Slightly strange in a funny, pleasant way

is more plainly silly and less about charming oddness
daft
vsbarmy
  • Informal
18 5.8

Silly in a way that is slightly funny

leans toward playful foolishness rather than real mental trouble
loopy
vsbarmy
  • Informal
17 7.9

A person who behaves in a slightly crazy or silly way

is more about mild craziness mixed with harmless foolishness
fruity
vsbarmy
  • Offensive
10 8.6

Used informally to describe someone who behaves in a strange or silly way

is gentler and more amusing rather than strongly irregular
batty
vsbarmy
  • Offensive
6 8.4

Slightly strange in the way a person thinks or behaves

is more about harmless silliness than odd mental patterns
ditzy
vsbarmy
  • Informal
5 8.2

Silly and a little forgetful in a friendly way

is more about slight foolishness than lasting lack of sense
dippy
vsbarmy
  • Informal
5 8.2

Being silly and a little strange in a friendly way

is more general foolishness rather than specifically unclear thinking
dotty
vsbarmy
  • Informal
2 8.5

Someone who behaves in a slightly strange or silly way

is more about harmless silliness and gentle foolishness
goosey
vsbarmy
  • Informal
2 9.8

Silly in a way that shows bad judgment

is more playful and less focused on poor judgement
ditsy
vsbarmy
  • Informal
1 7.2

Being silly and forgetful but not serious

is similar but can include more deliberate foolish behaviour
chumpy
vsbarmy
  • Informal
1 8.9

A little silly in a harmless, often funny way

is mild silliness that stays amusing rather than causing concern
nutsy
vsbarmy
  • Slang
1 8.6

Slightly silly and odd in a playful way

is similar but emphasises mild, amusing foolishness rather than madness
haywire
vsbarmy
  • Informal
1 8.1

Mentally confused and behaving wildly

is steadier silliness, not the same wild loss of control
around the bend
vsbarmy
  • Offensive
1 9.3

To be very confused or act in a strange way

is milder and more amusing rather than seriously unbalanced
dopy
vsbarmy
  • Offensive
1 7.2

Silly and slow to understand things

is broader silliness, not only showing low attention or care
goony
vsbarmy
  • Informal
1 8.9

Silly and awkward in a clumsy, funny way

is more about gentle foolishness than awkward goofiness
goosy
vsbarmy
  • Informal
1 9.9

Being silly and not thinking clearly

carries a lighter, more amusing tone rather than poor judgement
whacky
vsbarmy
  • Informal
1 7.7

Funny in a strange or silly way

tends to be gentler and less energetic in its foolishness
buggy
vsbarmy
  • Offensive
1 8.1

Acting strange or not thinking clearly

is less about instability and more about harmless foolishness
balmy
vsbarmy
  • Offensive
1 8.4

Being a little crazy or foolish

is similar but used more playfully and less regionally specific
loco
vsbarmy
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Not behaving in a normal or sensible way

is milder, often amusing, and not truly insane
cracked
vsbarmy
  • Offensive
7.4

Someone who acts a little crazy

is milder and more amusing rather than clearly unbalanced
kookie
vsbarmy
  • Slang
9.8

Strange in a funny or slightly crazy way

is more simply foolish and less stylistically eccentric
corky
vsbarmy
7.0

Lively and slightly odd in a way that makes people smile

is more about simple silliness than charming playfulness
bonkers
vsbarmy
  • Informal
8.0

Acting or feeling very strange

is milder and more amusing rather than fully mad behaviour
nuts
vsbarmy
  • Offensive
8.6

Very crazy or doing things that show bad judgment

is less strong, more playful and harmless in tone
bats
vsbarmy
  • Offensive
9.3

A bit crazy or silly in a strange way

is softer and more playful rather than strongly irregular
crackers
vsbarmy
  • UK
8.8

Acting very silly and not thinking in a sensible way

is milder, often amusing, rather than strongly crazy
a bit loony
vsbarmy
  • Offensive
8.9

A little strange and silly

is similar but more pointedly playful and harmless

Antonyms

382 3.8

Based on clear thinking and facts rather than emotion

201 2.7

Showing good judgment and making practical choices

How Silly

insane
  • Slur
524 4.0
mad
  • Informal
234 3.3
silly
976 1.0
barmy
  • UK
3 8.2
odd
798 1.0

Surface Forms

barmy positive

Morphology

barmy = barm (opaque) = barm + y

Although formally barm + -y, the noun 'barm' is rare and the modern sense 'silly/crazy' cannot be predicted from 'barm' by an average learner.

Etymology

Barmy comes from barm, an old word for the froth or 'foam' that appears on fermenting beer or bread. A helpful image is a head full of froth, which makes you seem light and silly, so barmy came to mean 'silly' or 'slightly crazy'.