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zanily

zanily

8.2
In a silly, funny way that makes people laugh
  • adverb
  • /ˈzeɪnɪli/
  • Informal
translation icon : de manera cómica
  • She told the story zanily, using funny voices and exaggerated gestures to entertain the kids.

Examples

  • She said it after the Bug and I zanily chased a squirrel across the yard while Mama yelled.

    Blog text (30)
  • The clown danced zanily, making the audience laugh with every silly move.

  • The puppy played zanily in the garden, tumbling over itself and chasing its own tail.

Synonyms

ridiculously
vszanily
72 3.7

In a way that is much too extreme or silly

is playfully odd rather than purely extreme in absurdity
hilariously
vszanily
  • Informal
12 2.5

In a very funny way that makes people laugh

is more quirky and oddly playful than sheer extreme funniness
comically
vszanily
11 3.9

In a funny way that makes people laugh

is zanier and less structured than straightforward comic delivery
laughably
vszanily
7 5.5

So silly or weak that people laugh at it

is intentionally playful and oddly comic rather than merely inadequate
amusingly
vszanily
5 3.0

In a funny way that makes people laugh

is more eccentrically silly and odd rather than gently amusing
humorously
vszanily
5 3.3

In a funny way that makes people laugh

is zanier and more eccentric than ordinary humor
ludicrously
vszanily
5 7.0

So silly or extreme that it makes people laugh

is zany and playful rather than only absurdly unreasonable
facetiously
vszanily
3 8.1

In a joking way that is not meant to be taken seriously

is more purely odd and visually silly than ironic joking
preposterously
vszanily
3 8.1

Very silly or unreasonable in a way that seems laughable

is more lightly playful and less extremely absurd in tone
uproariously
vszanily
2 6.3

In a very loud, happy way that makes people laugh

is more eccentric and oddly playful rather than only loud
comedically
vszanily
2 4.3

In a funny way that makes people laugh

is more spontaneously odd and playfully silly than staged comedy
goofily
vszanily
  • Informal
1 4.2

In a silly, awkward way that looks funny

is more deliberately odd and intentionally comical than awkwardness
clownishly
vszanily
1 6.4

In a silly, foolish way like a clown

is less theatrical and more spontaneously bizarre in silliness
impishly
vszanily
1 6.7

To act in a playful and slightly naughty way that seems friendly

is more broadly odd and absurd than mere mischief
roguishly
vszanily
1 7.3

In a playful way that breaks small rules to make people laugh

is zanier and less simply charming or mischievous in tone
kiddingly
vszanily
1 3.6

To say or do something in a joking way without being serious

is more wildly odd and physically silly than playful teasing
jocularly
vszanily
1 7.1

In a joking way to make people laugh

is more physical and eccentric in its silliness than joking
drolly
vszanily
1 6.9

In a funny, slightly odd way that makes people smile

is more openly goofy and eccentric than quietly witty humor
sidesplittingly
vszanily
  • Informal
1 8.1

In a way that makes people laugh a lot

is often milder and more whimsically odd than extreme hilarity
jocosely
vszanily
  • Formal
8.3

In a joking way to make people laugh

is more wildly odd and unpredictable than simple joking
waggishly
vszanily
  • Literature
7.7

In a playful joking way to make people laugh

is more absurd and unusually silly than friendly teasing
wackily
vszanily
  • Informal
8.0

In a funny, strange way that makes people laugh

is similar but more deliberately odd and zany in action
sillily
vszanily
8.1

In a foolish way to make people laugh

is more eccentric and wildly playful than plain foolishness
daftly
vszanily
  • Informal
7.6

Behave in a silly, foolish way that seems a bit crazy

is more exuberantly odd and deliberately comic than mild daftness
campily
vszanily
8.8

In a very dramatic, playful way that makes people laugh

is less theatrical and more spontaneously bizarre in its silliness
divertingly
vszanily
6.7

In a way that makes people laugh and enjoy it

is more oddly playful and deliberately silly than general entertainment
risibly
vszanily
  • Formal
8.5

In a way that makes people laugh because it is silly

is more deliberately eccentric and animated in its silliness
killingly
vszanily
  • Informal
9.6

In a way that is very funny and makes people laugh

is more quirky and bizarre than deeply intense funniness
pricelessly
vszanily
  • Informal
5.0

In a way that is very funny and makes people laugh

is more oddly comic and less about priceless reactions

Antonyms

1.6

In a way that shows you mean what you say

solemnly
  • Formal
57 4.2

To speak or act in a serious and respectful way

How Silly

hilariously
  • Informal
12 2.5
zanily
  • Informal
8.2
comically
11 3.9
sillily
8.1

Surface Forms

zanily positive

Morphology

zanily = zany (transparent) = zany + ly

The adverb is formed by straightforward suffixation of '-ly' to the adjective 'zany', so the meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

Zanily comes from zany, which comes from the Italian comic helper Zanni, a funny servant in old stage plays that behaved in silly ways. The ending -ly turns it into a word that shows how something is done, so to act zanily is to act 'silly' or 'comical', like a playful clown.