meshuggener

9.9

People call someone silly or crazy as a friendly joke

noun
/məˈʃʊɡənər/

Offensive

: loco

But, just as he had gambled, Jackie Maye walked past him remarking, "Meshuggener!" For the benefit of her guests, she translated that from the Yiddish as "Eccentric creative staff."

Examples

I am a meshuggener, but of course.

The Pest (1997)
Some meshuggener suggested your name to become the new rabbi.

The Frisco Kid (1979)
Go to sleep, meshuggener.

Mank (2020)
Everyone loves him despite being a bit of a meshuggener in his ideas.
My friend is a real meshuggener who always comes up with silly schemes.
Only a meshuggener would think that jumping off the roof could be a good idea.

Synonyms

nut

vsmeshuggener

Informal

199 7.5

A person who behaves in a silly or strange way

is more affectionate and often used playfully

nutcase

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

36 8.6

A person who behaves very strangely and may be dangerous

is gentler and affectionate, not implying danger or severe illness

buffoon

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

34 7.4

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

is an affectionate personal label, not specifically an entertainer name

joker

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

23 3.7

A person who behaves foolishly or annoyingly

is an affectionate label for character rather than for single annoying acts

goofball

vsmeshuggener

Slang

22 7.5

A silly person who acts funny to make others laugh

is similar but used as a friendly personal label, not just performance

airhead

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

16 8.8

A person who is silly and not very smart

focuses on playful affection rather than implying lack of intelligence

gomer

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

14 9.9

A person who acts silly or clumsy and makes others laugh

is more affectionate and gentle in tone rather than mocking

nimrod

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

10 9.2

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

is more affectionate and lighthearted rather than insulting or mocking

goober

vsmeshuggener

Slang

9 8.7

A silly, friendly person who acts in a funny way

is more affectionate and playful rather than harsh or insulting

chucklehead

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

7 9.1

A person who is silly and acts foolishly

is more affectionate and used jokingly rather than hostile

nutbag

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

4 8.6

A person who acts in a silly or strange way

is a more affectionate, playful label rather than blunt insult

nutball

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

4 8.5

A person who acts silly or strange to make others laugh

is more affectionate and often used warmly among friends

jughead

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

3 9.9

Someone who behaves in a silly or foolish way

is more affectionate and often playful rather than mean

wacker

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

3 9.9

A person who acts foolishly or oddly

is more affectionate and commonly humorous instead of harsh

chowderhead

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

3 9.9

A person who behaves in a silly or stupid way

is more playful and affectionate rather than plainly calling someone stupid

bubble-head

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

2 9.5

A person who is silly and not serious

is more affectionate and playful rather than crude insult

plonker

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

1 9.9

A foolish person who often does stupid things

is more affectionate and playful, not focused on incompetence

meshuggeneh

vsmeshuggener

Slang

1 9.9

A person who behaves in a crazy or foolish way

is similar but used more broadly and affectionately outside that cultural sense

barney

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

1 8.8

A person who behaves in a silly or foolish way

is more affectionate and often playful rather than merely informal

total nutcase

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

1 8.8

A person who acts in a way that seems crazy

is milder and often affectionate rather than extreme or alarming

potato head

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

1 8.4

A person who behaves in a foolish or silly way

is more affectionate and often used with warmth, not harshness

nutcake

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

1 9.1

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

is more affectionate and playful rather than derogatory or harsh

meshugana

vsmeshuggener

Slang

1 9.9

A person who behaves in a silly, playful way

is an affectionate label rather than focusing on eccentric behaviour

blubberhead

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

1 9.9

A person who behaves in a foolish way

is milder and often affectionate rather than explicitly insulting

whangdoodle

vsmeshuggener

Archaic

1 9.9

A person who acts in a silly, playful way

is used affectionately and lightly, not mainly to criticize

cheese monkey

vsmeshuggener

Slang

1 9.9

A person who acts silly and playful

is more affectionate and often used as a friendly nickname

McStupid

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

1 9.9

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

is more affectionate and playful rather than a mean mocking label

josser

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

9.9

A person who does silly or odd things

is more affectionate and familiar in tone than rough slang

dingling

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

9.9

A person who acts silly or foolish

is more affectionate and less bluntly insulting in common use

guignol

vsmeshuggener

Offensive

9.9

A person who acts like a clown to make others laugh

is more of an affectionate insult than a performance label

How Crazy

maniac

Offensive

166 8.1

madcap

Informal

1 7.9

meshuggener

Offensive

9.9

fool

Offensive

∞ 1.4

silly

Informal

40 7.4

Surface Forms

meshuggener singular

meshuggeneres plural

Etymology

The word meshuggener comes from Yiddish and the Hebrew word meshuga, which means 'crazy'. So a meshuggener is a 'crazy' or foolish person, often said as a joke or in a loving way.