whacky

4 7.7

Funny in a strange or silly way

adjective
/ˈwæk.i/

Informal

: raro

The party was filled with whacky decorations like inflatable unicorns and giant rubber ducks.

I just walked past like whacky of what did you say?

Examples

One thing that really grieves me is how the idea of space travel, of thinking bold, visionary thoughts on the possible futures, seems to have become something "whacky" to be mocked and derided, much as it once was with similar SF dreams such as humans being able to fly and land on the Moon and even being able to understand what the stars were made of.

Blog text (5)
His whacky sense of humor always kept us laughing with unexpected jokes and silly impressions.
The cartoon featured a whacky character who flew on a giant pizza and danced with talking animals.

Synonyms

crazy

vswhacky

Informal

∞ 1.4

Very strange or unusual in a way that surprises people

is generally more playful and gentler than intense or uncontrolled madness

silly

vswhacky

944 1.0

Not sensible and often a little foolish

is more charmingly odd and playful rather than merely senseless or trivial

funny

vswhacky

916 2.0

Causing a strange feeling in your body

is more about eccentric oddness than just producing surprise or amusement

nuts

vswhacky

Offensive

578 8.6

Very crazy or doing things that show bad judgment

is less about mental illness and more about amusing eccentric behaviour

goofy

vswhacky

Informal

122 3.5

Silly in a funny, slightly foolish way

is more about odd charm and eccentricity than plain ridiculousness

wacky

vswhacky

Informal

100 5.9

Odd in a funny or silly way

is the same meaning but spelled differently as an alternate form

quirky

vswhacky

68 4.4

Unusual in a way that is odd but likable

is more overtly playful and silly than simply being appealingly different

nutty

vswhacky

Informal

64 7.2

Being a little crazy in a funny or strange way

is generally more playful and less seriously unsound in behaviour

loony

vswhacky

Offensive

54 8.2

Strange and silly in a way people call crazy

is milder and more amusing rather than indicating serious mental instability

whimsical

vswhacky

36 7.4

Being playful and imaginative in a way that seems unpredictable

is more about playful oddness than purely fanciful unpredictability

wacko

vswhacky

Offensive

31 8.5

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

is more about light playful oddness than harsh or insulting judgement

bonkers

vswhacky

Informal

28 8.0

Acting or feeling very strange

is milder and more amusedly odd rather than extremely uninhibited madness

loco

vswhacky

Offensive

26 9.9

Not behaving in a normal or sensible way

is more gentle and playful rather than indicating true dangerous instability

daft

vswhacky

Informal

26 5.8

Silly in a way that is slightly funny

is more about odd charm and eccentricity than mere lack of sense

kooky

vswhacky

Informal

25 8.0

Slightly strange in a funny, pleasant way

is more playful and lighthearted than truly mentally unstable behaviour

loopy

vswhacky

Informal

20 7.9

A person who behaves in a slightly crazy or silly way

is lighter and more playful in tone than deeply unsettling behaviour

zany

vswhacky

14 7.6

Funny and odd in a silly way that makes people laugh

is similar but emphasizes light playful oddness rather than performance or clowning

batty

vswhacky

Offensive

11 8.4

Slightly strange in the way a person thinks or behaves

is lighter and more entertaining rather than indicating serious mental disorder

droll

vswhacky

11 7.7

Funny in a quiet, odd way that makes you smile

is more openly playful and lively rather than quietly odd and witty

fruity

vswhacky

Offensive

8 8.6

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

is more affectionate and humorous rather than pejorative or clinical in tone

bats

vswhacky

Offensive

7 9.3

A bit crazy or silly in a strange way

is milder and jokier rather than seriously disturbed or dangerous behaviour

cracked

vswhacky

Offensive

7 7.4

Someone who acts a little crazy

is more playful and less clinically suggestive than actual serious imbalance

wiggy

vswhacky

Slang

5 9.3

Strange and amusing in how a person or thing looks and acts

is more about playful oddness than mere strange appearance or behaviour

wacked

vswhacky

Slang

5 9.2

Funny and a bit strange, like a silly film or party

is more about amusing oddness than the coarse informal slang tone

buggy

vswhacky

Offensive

4 8.1

Acting strange or not thinking clearly

is more about playful oddness and harmless fun than true instability

barmy

vswhacky

4 8.2

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

is more playfully odd rather than merely foolish or nonsensical behaviour

dotty

vswhacky

Informal

2 8.5

Someone who behaves in a slightly strange or silly way

is more energetic and visibly playful rather than quietly absentminded or odd

crackers

vswhacky

2 8.8

Acting very silly and not thinking in a sensible way

is less harsh and more playful rather than highly negative or insulting

dipsy

vswhacky

Informal

1 9.8

Acting silly and playful in a slightly strange but friendly way

is more deliberately playful rather than simply being harmlessly unpredictable

nutsy

vswhacky

Slang

1 8.6

Slightly silly and odd in a playful way

is more eccentric and amusing rather than truly mentally unstable

kookie

vswhacky

Slang

1 9.8

Strange in a funny or slightly crazy way

is less about informality and more about playful eccentricity overall

waggish

vswhacky

Literature

1 8.0

Playful and teasing in a light, joking way

is less about teasing jokes and more about quirky visual oddness

balmy

vswhacky

Offensive

1 8.4

Being a little crazy or foolish

is more amusingly odd and playful rather than simply being foolish

nimptopsical

vswhacky

Neologism

9.9

Playful and a little strange in a way that makes people smile

is more about general eccentric amusement than pure fanciful whimsy

a bit loony

vswhacky

Offensive

8.9

A little strange and silly

is more about amusing eccentricity rather than actual mental instability

Antonyms

serious

∞ 1.4

Calm and focused, not playful or joking

conventional

287 2.8

Doing things in the usual way most people expect, not new or original

How Eccentric

crazy

Slur

53 7.2

whacky

Informal

4 7.7

odd

878 1.0

eccentric

10 7.0

quirky

68 4.4

Surface Forms

whacky positive

whackier comparative

whackiest superlative

Morphology

whacky = wack (transparent) = wack + y

Regular adjective formation from the slang base 'wack' + suffix '-y'; the meaning 'amusingly odd' follows directly from the base, though the nonstandard spelling 'whacky' may cause minor confusion.

Etymology

Whacky comes from the English word whack ('a sudden hit') and the slang whacko ('crazy'). Think of a quick, surprising 'whack' that makes someone act odd or funny, and that's why whacky means amusingly odd or silly.