1
as in mad
unable to think in a clear or sensible way
After learning of the robbery, they were insane with anger and foolishly searched the neighborhood looking for their belongings.
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2
as in absurd
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality
a completely insane plan to build an opera house in the middle of nowhere
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3
as in stupid
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
an insane plan to blow all of their savings on lottery tickets
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4
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
wanted an insane amount of money to paint our house
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insane
But California law sets a high burden of proof for a defendant to be declared legally insane at the time of a crime.
—
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
The events were the stuff of an insane movie.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 2026
There’s this insane and brilliant art museum and barely anyone one goes.
—Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
The result is essentially insane and postliterate.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insane
Adjective
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And everyone is mad at Andrew—though this one feels like a rumor and more reality.—
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He’s been thrown straight into a mad month, in which Chelsea have Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Champions League fixtures.—
Adjective
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After the first Roundtable, Survivor stalwart Rob Cesternino — perhaps clued in by Candiace’s absurd conga line ploy to get people out of the kitchen — sniffed out that a murder in plain sight could be happening.—
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Contrary to what many may think, the researchers found no correlation between a person’s level of education and their capacity to believe in absurd conspiracies.—
Adjective
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In tribute to Michael Keane’s hair-pulling on Wednesday, Cerys Jones picked through the stupidest dismissals in Premier League history.—
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To do a lot less foolish, thoughtless, stupid, idiotic things.—
Adjective
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Diane Nygaard, an Oceanside resident and representative of the nonprofit Preserve Calavera, said the developer’s request for 14 waivers of city development standards is excessive.—
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Shorter days and excessive time indoors?—
Adjective
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Colloquial slang in reverence to the most maniacal competitors.—
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In keeping with Marty Supreme’s tachycardiac tempo and its titular character’s maniacal hustle, Chalamet was adamant that the execution not feel too polished.—
Adjective
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His work is marked by unusual, even bizarre, material choices that encrust spatial compositions reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s innovative open space plans.—
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Some unnamed Chicago bartender in the early 1880s had the improbable idea of taking a Whiskey Sour and adding a little red wine to the top, inventing in a bizarre flash of insightone of the great warm weather whiskey drinks of our time.—
Adjective
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Peterson’s 30-plus point scoring output (on 8-of-18 shooting, 3-of-8 from 3, 13-15 from line) helped make possible a crazy comeback victory.—
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Or at least the craziest until Malinin began doing on ice back flips during the 2024-25 season after the International Skating Union, the sport’s global governing body, lifted a ban on the stunt.—
Adjective
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An extreme cold watch is issued when dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are possible.—
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Here, sea level rise is accelerating at some of the most extreme rates on Earth, while hurricanes increasingly are swirling ashore with an unprecedented ferociousness.—
Cite this Entry
“Insane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insane. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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