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adj

loony

LOO-nee
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Loony (adj) means Crazy or mentally unstable. Example: “That's a completely loony idea.”

adj
1
Crazy or mentally unstable.
"That's a completely loony idea."
"He went a bit loony after weeks without sleep."
2
Extremely silly or ridiculous.
"The plot of the movie was loony but fun."
noun
1
An informal word for a foolish or unstable person.
"Only a loony would try to cross that river in a storm."

How to use loony

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCrazy, silly, or someone acting that way — used casually, often affectionately.

When to use it

Informal; can sound insensitive when applied to real mental illness, so it's mostly used for silly behaviour or ideas rather than clinical conditions.

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Word forms

Plural
loonies
Comparative
loonier
Superlative
looniest
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

That's a completely _____ idea.

Etymology

A shortened, informal version of "lunatic."

Related words

Rhymes for loony

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Frequently asked questions

What does “loony” mean?
The word “loony” means crazy or mentally unstable. In plain terms, crazy, silly, or someone acting that way — used casually, often affectionately.
How do you pronounce “loony”?
“Loony” is pronounced LOO-nee (/ˈluːni/ in IPA).
How do you use “loony” in a sentence?
Here is “loony” used in a sentence: “That's a completely loony idea.”
What part of speech is “loony”?
Depending on how it is used, “loony” can be an adjective and a noun.
How many meanings does “loony” have?
“Loony” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: crazy or mentally unstable.

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