bats

7 9.3

A bit crazy or silly in a strange way

adjective
/bæts/

Offensive

: loco

After the wild party, he felt a bit bats for dancing on the table.

Children would cower in fear because I was bats.

Examples

Her fashion sense is quite bats, mixing colors and patterns unexpectedly.
Everyone thinks my ideas are bats, but I believe they're innovative.
I got blue hair, I got tattoos, and I'm bat nuts.
I'm literally going bat, bat, bat, skidded it, bat bat.

Synonyms

nuts

vsbats

Offensive

578 8.6

Very crazy or doing things that show bad judgment

is similar but used more gently and less bluntly

wacky

vsbats

Informal

100 5.9

Odd in a funny or silly way

is the basic informal term for oddness without aiming to amuse

nutty

vsbats

Informal

64 7.2

Being a little crazy in a funny or strange way

covers the same informal irregularity without implying strong madness

loony

vsbats

Offensive

54 8.2

Strange and silly in a way people call crazy

is the general informal term for mental irregularity without severity focus

bonkers

vsbats

Informal

28 8.0

Acting or feeling very strange

is similar but usually less extreme in tone

loco

vsbats

Offensive

26 9.9

Not behaving in a normal or sensible way

is the looser informal label for mental irregularity rather than abnormality

daft

vsbats

Informal

26 5.8

Silly in a way that is slightly funny

is the general informal label for mental irregularity, not only silliness

kooky

vsbats

Informal

25 8.0

Slightly strange in a funny, pleasant way

covers eccentricity too but without stressing amusing appeal

loopy

vsbats

Informal

20 7.9

A person who behaves in a slightly crazy or silly way

is broader and covers eccentricity without emphasizing unpredictability

batty

vsbats

Offensive

11 8.4

Slightly strange in the way a person thinks or behaves

is the same informal idea of mental irregularity but slightly broader

batshit

vsbats

Offensive

10 9.9

An informal word for very crazy and hard to believe

denotes informal mental irregularity but not the extreme wildness

fruity

vsbats

Offensive

8 8.6

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

is the plain informal description of mental irregularity without slang colour

cracked

vsbats

Offensive

7 7.4

Someone who acts a little crazy

is the broad informal idea of mental irregularity rather than a degree

buggy

vsbats

Offensive

4 8.1

Acting strange or not thinking clearly

is the general informal description, not highlighting instability specifically

whacky

vsbats

Informal

4 7.7

Funny in a strange or silly way

is more neutral, covering oddness whether funny or serious

barmy

vsbats

4 8.2

Being silly and slightly crazy in a way that seems funny and harmless

is similar but may be used more widely, not always harmlessly

dotty

vsbats

Informal

2 8.5

Someone who behaves in a slightly strange or silly way

is the broader informal category of mental irregularity without mildness focus

crackers

vsbats

2 8.8

Acting very silly and not thinking in a sensible way

is the broader informal term for mental irregularity beyond British usage

around the bend

vsbats

Offensive

1 9.3

To be very confused or act in a strange way

is the general informal label for mental irregularity without phrasing

haywire

vsbats

Informal

1 8.1

Mentally confused and behaving wildly

focuses on simple mental irregularity without the uncontrollable aspect

kookie

vsbats

Slang

1 9.8

Strange in a funny or slightly crazy way

is the standard informal label for mental irregularity without slang hint

balmy

vsbats

Offensive

1 8.4

Being a little crazy or foolish

is the same informal mental irregularity but not marked Britishly

Antonyms

normal

∞ 1.0

Usual or expected in most situations

sane

130 3.2

Having a healthy mind and able to think clearly

Idioms

bats in one's belfry

Offensive

9.9

Act in a strange or crazy way

How Crazy

insane

Slur

405 4.0

bonkers

Informal

28 8.0

bats

Offensive

7 9.3

eccentric

91 7.2

odd

878 1.0

Surface Forms

bats positive

Etymology

The word bats comes from the animal bat and the old image 'bats in the belfry' — a 'belfry' is a 'bell tower' where bats might fly, so people pictured a head full of fluttering bats. So, if someone is bats they are 'crazy' or acting very strange.