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insane

insane

405 4.0
Having a very serious mental illness that changes how someone thinks
  • adjective
  • /ɪnˈseɪn/
  • Slur
: [OFENSIVO] loco
  • I had this insane puffy face for a full week.
  • go insane
  • legally insane
  • an insane person

He accused me of being quite insane several times.

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Examples

  • The doctor said that the patient's behavior was indicative of severe mental disturbance and described him as insane.

  • We can hold even an insane person legally liable for their actions.

    Academic text (2006)
  • How did this mom pull off such an insane lie?

  • And when I mean insane I mean like World War three.

  • One, your budget is insane and two, you are insane.

  • And that woman ends up driving you insane, right?

  • This man is clearly insane!

  • This man is completely insane!

  • Guys, just tell me, am I insane for liking the golf dad look?

  • Why does Aguirre end up alone and insane on the raft at the end of the film?

    Academic text (1993)

Synonyms

crazy
vsinsane
  • Offensive
∞ 4.1

Mentally ill and unable to think or behave in a normal way

is broader and also covers foolish or irrational acts without clinical label
nuts
vsinsane
  • Offensive
578 8.6

Very crazy or doing things that show bad judgment

is more neutral and can include clinical severity or extreme foolishness
psychotic
vsinsane
  • Specialized
151 8.4

Not in touch with reality and may see or hear things that are not there

is less technical and covers severe irrational or foolish acts
crazed
vsinsane
89 5.0

Acting in a wild and uncontrolled way

can also describe extreme irrationality without implying full clinical disorder
mentally ill
vsinsane
  • Vulgar
87 3.4

Having a serious problem with thinking, feeling, or behaving because of a brain condition

is broader and also covers extreme foolish or irrational acts
deranged
vsinsane
  • Offensive
72 7.6

Not able to think or act in a normal, reasonable way

is broader and can also mean extreme foolishness rather than illness
nutty
vsinsane
  • Informal
64 7.2

Being a little crazy in a funny or strange way

is stronger and may describe severe irrationality or clinical problems
bonkers
vsinsane
  • Informal
28 8.0

Acting or feeling very strange

is more formal and can indicate clinical illness or deep irrationality
unhinged
vsinsane
  • Offensive
27 7.8

A person who is not thinking or acting in a normal and safe way

is more general and can include extreme irrational or foolish acts
maniacal
vsinsane
16 8.6

Very wild and out of control, seeming crazy

is broader and can include nonviolent extreme foolish or irrational acts
raving mad
vsinsane
  • Informal
7 7.2

Acting or speaking in a wild, not sensible way

also covers severe disorder but is used more broadly for folly
cracked
vsinsane
  • Offensive
7 7.4

Someone who acts a little crazy

is stronger and can refer to serious disorder or extreme folly
insane in the membrane
vsinsane
  • Slang
2 9.8

Acting or feeling very silly and not thinking clearly, often as a joke

is more neutral and may denote serious disorder or extreme foolishness
half-crazed
vsinsane
2 7.8

Very frightened or upset and not thinking clearly

is stronger and can imply complete severe mental derangement
nutty as a fruitcake
vsinsane
  • Informal
1 9.0

Very strange and silly in a way that seems crazy

is more clinical or general, covering actual severe mental disorder
off one's nut
vsinsane
  • Offensive
9.9

Acting in a very strange and not sensible way

is broader and can cover both brief acts and deep disorder

Antonyms

347 3.8

Based on clear thinking and facts rather than emotion

130 3.2

Having a healthy mind and able to think clearly

Idioms

Acting or feeling very silly and not thinking clearly, often as a joke

Compounds

15 9.9

A hospital for people with serious mental health problems, now an old and offensive word

How Sane

sane
130 3.2
unstable
79 4.4
insane
  • Slur
405 4.0
psychotic
  • Specialized
151 8.4

Surface Forms

insane positive

Morphology

insane = sane (transparent) = in + sane

This sense is a straightforward negative formation from 'sane', meaning 'not of sound mind'.

Etymology

Insane comes from the Latin parts in- 'not' and sanus 'healthy', so it originally meant 'not mentally healthy'. That's why it is used to describe severe mental illness or when someone is not of sound mind.