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wing nut

wing nut

6 9.0
A person with extreme political views that people insult
  • noun
  • /wɪŋ nʌt/
  • Offensive
translation icon : fanático (informal, ofensivo)
  • I wonder where the right-wing nuts are that insulted us during the debate?
  • right-wing nut
  • left-wing nut
  • wing nut job

So I have to say, well, there was this one wing nut of a person who said they trust them.

Examples

  • It's frustrating to debate with a wing nut who refuses to listen to reason.

  • Because you are pushing the right-wing nuts' failed narrative.

    Blog text (14)
  • So I have to say, well, there was this one wing nut of a person who said they trust them.

  • How is that a win for anybody but the left and right-wing nuts who are driving this whole thing?

    Blog text (12)
  • Why are all of you wing nuts railing on Obama?

    Blog text (28)
  • Before the Texas bashing starts, let me say that not all Texans are wing nuts.

    Blog text (1)
  • The best thing for the Democratic Party is for Sarah Palin or some other right-wing nut to win next year.

    Blog text (27)
  • Gingrich had to resign as Speaker of the House in disgrace, and the wing nuts still considered him presidential material.

    Blog text (23)
  • DOMA is simply a way for right-wing nuts to discriminate and deny the lawful rights that they enjoy to others.

    Blog text (32)
  • Benghazi truthers are right-wing nut jobs that fake outrage about everything Obama does.

    Blog text (21)

Synonyms

nut
vswing nut
  • Informal
675 7.7

A person who is very interested in a particular hobby or subject

is limited to people with extreme political views on one side
nutcase
vswing nut
  • Offensive
52 8.6

A person who behaves very strangely and may be dangerous

refers specifically to people holding extreme political views rather than general craziness
nutball
vswing nut
  • Offensive
5 8.5

A person who acts silly or strange to make others laugh

is used for people with extreme political positions rather than harmless silliness
nutbag
vswing nut
  • Offensive
4 8.6

A person who acts in a silly or strange way

is aimed at those with extreme political opinions rather than silly behaviour
nutcake
vswing nut
  • Offensive
1 9.1

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

targets people with extreme political beliefs rather than general foolishness

Antonyms

85 4.6

A person with political views that are not extreme

24 4.2

A person with moderate political views between the left and the right

How Extreme

extremist
  • Literature
186 6.9
wing nut
  • Offensive
6 9.0
hardliner
19 7.5
conservative
4.6
moderate
85 4.6

Surface Forms

wing nut singular
wing nuts plural

Morphology

wing + nut

The compound combines a sense of 'wing' (a side or faction) with the colloquial 'nut' (an eccentric or crazy person), so if a learner can access the political sense of 'wing' and the slang sense of 'nut' they can infer it denotes an extreme or irrational person on a political side. However, both senses are metaphorical/colloquial rather than literal (and 'wing' as a political faction may not be known from the basic definition), so the meaning is only partially predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Wing nut is an insulting name made from wing (a political side) and nut (a crazy person), giving the picture of someone at the extreme edge of a party. So it means a person with very extreme or unreasonable political views.