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looniness

looniness

1 6.8
A very silly or crazy way of behaving that makes people laugh
  • noun
  • /ˈluːnɪnəs/
  • Informal
translation icon : locura
  • His stories were filled with such looniness that it was hard to tell if he was joking or being serious.

Examples

  • Looniness and intelligent reflection, sensible scale, and discipline: but in stuff unusable for school, the terrible pain of the nerves, in sliding from the subject: the awful abrasiveness of failure.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • What we face, after all, is not populism, looniness, or lowered standards in general; instead, we face a specifically leftist type of populism, looniness, and lowered standards.

    Academic text (1991)
  • I am a little disappointed that the news media seem to have abandoned the field to this looniness.

    Blog text (1)
  • Do Bachmann's voters know she goes in for this looniness?

    Blog text (29)
  • Maybe you, too, should buy some guns or condoms and head for some wide open spaces where you can start a militia or tea party of love or looniness.

    Blog text (24)
  • God's motive urge to create was not out of a need due to looniness, but out of a desire to create as an artist, and desire is fueled by love.

    Blog text (18)
  • What we face, after all, is not populism, looniness, or lowered standards in general; instead, we face a specifically leftist type of populism, looniness, and lowered standards.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Where conservatism is, in fact, a serious governing philosophy, "conservatism has become synonymous in the voters' minds with absolute looniness," Schmidt said, making it difficult "to get to first base" with many voters.

    Blog text (34)
  • The children's giggles reflected the pure looniness of their wild imagination during the game.

  • The comedy show embraced a light-hearted looniness that had everyone in stitches.

Synonyms

madness
vslooniness
112 4.6

A foolish action that shows poor judgment

adds a sense of being very silly or sometimes visibly crazy
craziness
vslooniness
68 4.2

Very wild or foolish behavior, sometimes caused by problems in the mind

is similar but can be lighter and more playful rather than severe
foolishness
vslooniness
61 2.7

A lack of good sense or careful thought that causes bad choices

adds an element of extreme silliness or craziness to that lack
silliness
vslooniness
29 2.6

Playful or foolish behavior that is not serious and often funny

is stronger, meaning very silly or bordering on crazy
lunacy
vslooniness
22 7.5

Extremely foolish behavior that shows very poor judgment

is broader and can include playful silliness as well as extremes
buffoonery
vslooniness
5 7.9

Clown-like, silly actions meant to make people laugh

is the broader personal quality that may not aim to amuse
goofiness
vslooniness
  • Informal
2 3.2

A way of acting that is silly, playful, and often makes people laugh

is more extreme, implying very silly or sometimes chaotic conduct
foolery
vslooniness
2 6.1

Silly, harmless behavior that makes people laugh

is a more intense form that highlights extreme silliness or craziness
nuttiness
vslooniness
  • Informal
1 5.2

A playful, slightly silly way of behaving that makes people laugh

is broader, covering very silly, foolish, or more alarming craziness
ludicrousness
vslooniness
1 7.5

A situation so silly or unreasonable that people laugh and do not believe it

is the personal trait of being very silly or somewhat crazy
daftness
vslooniness
  • Informal
1 7.3

A way of behaving that is silly or foolish and not thinking clearly

is more intense, suggesting crazier or more extreme silliness
nuttery
vslooniness
  • Slang
1 9.4

Wild, foolish behavior that causes confusion

is the general quality rather than a label for chaotic activity
state of bonkersdom
vslooniness
  • Slang
9.9

A time when someone is very confused and acts a little crazy

is the real personal quality rather than a joking exaggerated state
loony antics
vslooniness
  • Informal
8.4

Silly, wild actions people do to get attention

is the underlying state that can produce such attention getting acts
clownishness
vslooniness
4.6

Behaving in a silly, playful way like a clown to make people laugh

is not necessarily intended to amuse and can be more extreme
clownery
vslooniness
  • Informal
6.1

Silly behavior meant to make people laugh

is the general state of being extremely silly or crazy beyond jokes
pure muppetry
vslooniness
  • Slang
9.9

Very foolish behavior that makes no sense

is the personal quality behind such ridiculous behaviour rather than the joke
fatuousness
vslooniness
9.5

A state of being foolish and not thinking clearly

is broader and can include playful or more extreme silly behaviour
asininity
vslooniness
  • Offensive
9.9

The state of being very foolish in a stubborn way

is a wider state that can be playful, foolish, or outright crazy

Antonyms

34 5.4

Clear thinking and decisions based on facts and logic

1 4.6

Being careful and reasonable when making choices

How Crazy

insanity
231 6.5
looniness
  • Informal
1 6.8
silliness
29 2.6

Surface Forms

looniness singular
looninesses plural

Morphology

looniness = loony (transparent) = loony + ness

Formed from the adjective 'loony' with the productive noun-forming suffix '-ness' meaning 'the state of being loony', which is straightforward for learners.

Etymology

Looniness comes from loony, which goes back to the old root luna meaning 'moon', because people once thought the moon could make someone act strange. So, looniness is the state of being 'silly' or 'crazy'.