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crazy

crazy

∞ 1.4
Very strange or unusual in a way that surprises people
  • adjective
  • /ˈkreɪzi/
  • Informal
: loco
  • Oh, yes, that would drive me crazy, too.
  • seem crazy
  • sound crazy
  • just plain crazy

And that'll be the end of isn't that crazy, man?

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Examples

  • I'm moving to LA next week, which is crazy, but I'm starting that.

  • And for some crazy reason, he said OK.

  • It's kind of kind of crazy, but it works.

  • So my small little goals are not as crazy as yours, right?

  • So I had a crazy night last night.

  • It's all been a crazy dream.

  • I'm like, this is a crazy world, right?

  • Kind of a crazy story with a crazy twist to it.

  • There's no other time in your life that feels so crazy and intense, and I love writing about that.

    Academic text (2015)
  • His decision to quit his job without a backup plan seemed crazy to everyone around him.

Synonyms

weird
vscrazy
  • Informal
∞ 3.2

Strange or unusual in a way that makes people feel uncomfortable

also covers foolish or surprising senses not only confusing strangeness
strange
vscrazy
∞ 2.3

Unusual and slightly odd in a way you cannot easily understand

is stronger and can mean very strange, foolish, or surprising
odd
vscrazy
878 1.0

Different from what is normal or expected

can imply stronger surprise, foolishness, or being very out of the ordinary
nuts
vscrazy
  • Offensive
578 8.6

Very crazy or doing things that show bad judgment

covers both strange behaviour and foolishness beyond mental instability
bizarre
vscrazy
389 5.9

Very strange or unusual in a way that surprises people

can be less visual and also mean foolish or surprising
absurd
vscrazy
284 4.4

So silly or unreasonable that it makes no sense

also includes mere strangeness or surprise, not only illogic
curious
vscrazy
142 4.0

Strange or unusual in a way that attracts attention

adds the idea of being very surprising, foolish, or out of the ordinary
wacky
vscrazy
  • Informal
100 5.9

Odd in a funny or silly way

is more general and can be strange without comic intent
crazed
vscrazy
89 5.0

Acting in a wild and uncontrolled way

can mean strange or foolish without implying violent loss of control
68 4.1

Not usual and different from what people expect

adds sense of surprising, foolish, or very strange beyond just unusual
nutty
vscrazy
  • Informal
64 7.2

Being a little crazy in a funny or strange way

is stronger and can mean very strange, surprising, or foolish
outlandish
vscrazy
32 7.4

Strange or unusual in a way that surprises people

is the general notion of strange, which may not be so extreme
wacko
vscrazy
  • Offensive
31 8.5

Something, like a person or an idea, that is very strange

is broader, covering strange, surprising, foolish, or out of the ordinary
bonkers
vscrazy
  • Informal
28 8.0

Acting or feeling very strange

is more general and covers strange, surprising, or foolish things
kooky
vscrazy
  • Informal
25 8.0

Slightly strange in a funny, pleasant way

is neutral and can be strange without being especially amusing
freakish
vscrazy
22 6.8

Very strange or unusual in a way that surprises people

is broader and can mean odd without attracting notice
half-baked
vscrazy
  • Informal
20 6.5

Not fully planned or sensible

is broader and can mean foolish or simply very strange
off-the-wall
vscrazy
  • Informal
14 8.0

Strange and often funny in a surprising way

is wider, including plain foolishness or simply being out of the ordinary
whacky
vscrazy
  • Informal
4 7.7

Funny in a strange or silly way

covers strange or surprising actions that need not be playful
screwball
vscrazy
  • Offensive
4 7.9

Foolish and not likely to succeed

can mean strange or surprising as well as merely foolish
nutty as a fruitcake
vscrazy
  • Informal
1 9.0

Very strange and silly in a way that seems crazy

is the neutral idea that includes odd or foolish behaviour more broadly
nutsy
vscrazy
  • Slang
1 8.6

Slightly silly and odd in a playful way

is broader and can mean very strange or seriously foolish
ouf
vscrazy
  • Slang
1 9.9

Very strange and exciting in a wild way

is the neutral category that includes strange or foolish cases
meshugana
vscrazy
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Very silly or clearly crazy

is the standard term that also includes strange or surprising uses
softheaded
vscrazy
  • Offensive
1 8.2

Being foolish and not thinking carefully before acting

includes strange or surprising behaviour beyond poor judgment

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Usual or expected in most situations

185 2.7

Showing good judgment and making practical choices

Idioms

like crazy
  • Informal
93 7.8

With a lot of energy and very quickly

46 3.2

Make someone very annoyed or upset

3 4.8

Try very hard for some time

1 6.0

To make a car go very fast and in a dangerous way

To let strong, uncontrolled feelings make your life worse

To have sex or start a romantic relationship with someone who is emotionally unstable and likely to cause trouble

Compounds

3 2.8

A very strong sticky liquid that joins things quickly

3 9.1

A rude name for a hospital where people with mental illness are treated

1 6.0

A bed cover made from many different small pieces of fabric sewn together

crazy bone
  • Informal
1 7.7

The spot at the elbow that makes your arm tingle when hit

crazy weed
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A western North American plant that makes farm animals sick if they eat it

How Strange

insane
  • Offensive
265 4.1
bizarre
389 5.9
crazy
  • Informal
∞ 1.4
weird
  • Informal
∞ 3.2
strange
∞ 2.3
odd
878 1.0

Surface Forms

crazy positive
crazier comparative
craziest superlative

Morphology

crazy = craze (opaque) = craze + y

Modern senses of 'crazy' (strange/insane) are not readily derivable from the noun 'craze' meaning 'fad', so knowing the base 'craze' would not reliably give the adjective meaning for most learners.

Etymology

Crazy grew from an old idea of something being 'cracked' or broken, like a damaged pot. So when we call a costume or idea crazy today, we mean it is strange or out of the ordinary.