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barney

barney

1 8.8
A person who behaves in a silly or foolish way
  • noun
  • /ˈbɑrni/
  • Offensive
: tonto
  • He's such a barney when he tries to dance.

Examples

  • Stop acting like a barney and pay attention to the instructions.

  • She called her brother a barney after he tripped over his own feet.

  • Everyone laughed when Tom played the barney at the office party.

  • Don't be a barney and wear that silly hat!

  • Stop acting like a barney and pay attention to the instructions.

  • She called her brother a barney after he tripped over his own feet.

  • He's such a barney when he tries to dance.

Synonyms

silly
vsbarney
  • Informal
40 7.4

A child who acts in a foolish or playful way

applies to people generally, not only childlike silliness
buffoon
vsbarney
  • Offensive
34 7.4

A person who acts in a silly way to make others laugh

covers silly behaviour broadly without implying performance for amusement
joker
vsbarney
  • Offensive
23 3.7

A person who behaves foolishly or annoyingly

is broader, covering simple silly behaviour without annoyance
goof
vsbarney
  • Informal
23 5.9

A person who acts silly to make others laugh

is similar but does not require the amusement intention
gomer
vsbarney
  • Offensive
14 9.9

A person who acts silly or clumsy and makes others laugh

focuses more on playful silliness rather than clumsiness specifically
nimrod
vsbarney
  • Offensive
10 9.2

A person who behaves foolishly and who others often insult with this word

focuses on simple foolish behaviour without implying incompetence
chucklehead
vsbarney
  • Offensive
7 9.1

A person who is silly and acts foolishly

is the general informal term for similar foolish conduct
Ding Dongs
vsbarney
  • Offensive
5 9.6

A rude name for people who act silly

is a general casual term for someone behaving in a silly way
doof
vsbarney
  • Offensive
4 9.9

A person who acts in a silly or foolish way

is the broader informal label for such silly or foolish conduct
dingbat
vsbarney
  • Offensive
4 9.2

A person who is silly and not thinking clearly

is the broader informal label for any foolish behaviour
jughead
vsbarney
  • Offensive
3 9.9

Someone who behaves in a silly or foolish way

is the general informal descriptor for such behaviour
chowderhead
vsbarney
  • Offensive
3 9.9

A person who behaves in a silly or stupid way

is the neutral informal word for simple foolish behaviour
dummkopf
vsbarney
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A rude name for a person who is very silly or not smart

is more of a playful or casual word for foolish behaviour
goobers
vsbarney
  • Slang
2 9.4

A person who acts in a silly or clumsy way

is similar but is a single informal general label
bubble-head
vsbarney
  • Offensive
2 9.5

A person who is silly and not serious

is a broader casual label for behaving in a foolish way
bobo
vsbarney
  • Offensive
2 9.8

A person who behaves in a silly or foolish way

is the more general playful word for silly behaviour
wally
vsbarney
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A person who acts in a silly or foolish way

focuses only on silly or foolish behaviour without incompetence
dumdum
vsbarney
  • Offensive
2 8.8

A person who acts in a silly or foolish way

is the broader casual label for general silly behaviour
zany
vsbarney
2 8.1

A person who acts in a funny, silly way to make people laugh

is similar but focuses simply on silly or foolish behaviour
stupidhead
vsbarney
  • Offensive
2 9.5

A childish name used to call someone silly

is the informal term describing silly behaviour without childish tone
potato head
vsbarney
  • Offensive
1 8.4

A person who behaves in a foolish or silly way

is the common casual word for ordinary silly behaviour
pratt
vsbarney
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who acts in a silly, foolish way

is the general informal term used across varieties for silly behaviour
tomfool
vsbarney
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who acts silly and does not think carefully

is the informal label that covers general silly actions regardless of judgment
divvy
vsbarney
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A foolish person who makes simple mistakes

is the informal general word for silly or foolish behaviour
blubberhead
vsbarney
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who behaves in a foolish way

is the standard informal term for such behaviour without strong insult
whangdoodle
vsbarney
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who acts in a silly, playful way

is the simple casual descriptor for someone acting foolish
ditzy
vsbarney
  • Informal
1 8.7

A person who is silly and a little forgetful

covers general silly or foolish conduct without implying scatterbrainedness
cheese monkey
vsbarney
  • Slang
1 9.9

A person who acts silly and playful

is more neutral and does not imply playful intent
McStupid
vsbarney
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A rude slang name for someone who acts foolish or makes silly mistakes

is the general informal word for silly personal behaviour
fribble
vsbarney
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A silly person who does not act seriously

is the modern casual term for plain silly or foolish acts
timberdoodle
vsbarney
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A foolish or awkward person

is the common informal word for plain silly or foolish behaviour
flapdoodle
vsbarney
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who says or does silly things

covers foolish behaviour more generally, not only nonsense speech
josser
vsbarney
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who does silly or odd things

is more general and not necessarily eccentric, just foolish
twitty
vsbarney
  • Informal
9.9

A person who behaves in a silly, playful way

is the casual general term for the same type of behaviour
dingling
vsbarney
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who acts silly or foolish

is the standard informal descriptor for general silly behaviour
guignol
vsbarney
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who acts like a clown to make others laugh

is more neutral and applies to ordinary foolish behaviour

How Silly

idiot
  • Offensive
∞ 1.2
fool
  • Offensive
∞ 1.4
barney
  • Offensive
1 8.8
clown
  • Offensive
175 2.4
silly
  • Informal
40 7.4

Surface Forms

barney singular
barneys plural

Etymology

Barney is also used to mean a person who acts 'silly' or foolish. A helpful way to remember this is that the name Barney feels like a playful nickname and may come from the same idea of causing small 'trouble', so calling someone a barney says they are being silly or making a fuss.