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mentalist

mentalist

1 9.6
A person who behaves in a very crazy or foolish way
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛn.təl.ɪst/
  • Slur
: tarado
  • It doesn't take a mentalist to figure that out.

Examples

  • The connective tissue owes not only is this unbelievable mentalist, he broke Robbie Ballinger Central Park record.

  • What are you, the mentalist?

  • You're that mentalist that jumps off buildings.

  • Hanna, you mentalist!

  • All the kiddies are getting Mannian hockey sticks so they know why they must be good eco-mentalists like David Suzuki!

    Blog text (9)
  • Everyone in the office thinks you're a total mentalist for wearing that outfit.

  • His erratic behavior at the party made everyone call him a mentalist.

  • After his bizarre speech, people started to whisper that he was a mentalist.

Synonyms

maniac
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
166 8.1

A person who behaves wildly and dangerously and may hurt others

is less violent, focusing on foolish unpredictability rather than dangerous obsession
madman
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
108 6.4

A man who acts very strangely or dangerously and may be mentally ill

is usually more informal and targets odd or unpredictable actions rather than danger
crackpot
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
38 8.2

A person who has strange or unrealistic ideas

is harsher, targeting general foolish or unpredictable conduct rather than ideas
kook
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
37 8.8

A person who behaves in a very strange or wild way

is more insulting and can imply unpredictable or foolish conduct
nutcase
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
36 8.6

A person who behaves very strangely and may be dangerous

is similar but can apply more often to odd or unpredictable conduct
crank
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
21 7.7

A person who is often angry and has strange ideas

is stronger, focusing on foolishness and unpredictable behaviour rather than odd ideas
mad dog
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
21 7.9

A person who acts violently and without control

covers uncontrolled foolish behaviour but is often less focused on aggression
nutbag
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
4 8.6

A person who acts in a silly or strange way

is the more general informal insult that stresses foolish or unpredictable acts
total psycho
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
3 9.1

A person who acts in a very angry, dangerous, or unpredictable way

is the broader informal insult for unpredictable or foolish behaviour
total nutcase
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
1 8.8

A person who acts in a way that seems crazy

is less extreme, covering general craziness or unpredictable foolishness
lunatic
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
1 6.2

A person who acts in a wild or reckless way

is more informal and often insults odd or foolish unpredictable conduct
madcap
vsmentalist
  • Informal
1 7.9

A person who does risky things without thinking

includes impulsive acts but is broader, covering foolish and unpredictable behaviour
nutcake
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
1 9.1

An insulting word for a person who acts very silly or strange

is the informal sometimes offensive term for unpredictable foolish behaviour
meshugana
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Very silly or clearly crazy

is similar but can carry a harsher, sometimes offensive tone
crackbrain
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person with very foolish or wild ideas

focuses more on odd behaviour and unpredictability than on ideas alone
ouf
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who behaves in a wild or strange way

is the more common insulting term for foolish and unpredictable actions
total whackjob
vsmentalist
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who behaves in a very strange and unreasonable way that worries others

covers similar informality but not always the same extreme degree
knuckleballer
vsmentalist
  • Informal
9.3

A person who often does things that surprise other people

emphasises general craziness and foolishness rather than mere unpredictability

How Unstable

mentalist
  • Slur
1 9.6
eccentric
10 7.0

Surface Forms

mentalist singular
mentalists plural

Morphology

mentalist = mental (semi-transparent) = mental + ist

Formally 'mental' + '-ist', but the informal/pejorative sense 'crazy person' is a slang semantic shift not fully predictable from the neutral adjective.

Etymology

Mentalist in informal speech comes from mental (from Latin mens, 'mind') and is used as an insult for someone who acts crazy or unpredictable. That's why calling someone a mentalist means you think they have a wild or strange mind and it can be offensive.