noun
screwball
SKROO-bawl
Screwball (noun) means a baseball pitch thrown with a twisting wrist motion that curves opposite to a normal curveball. Example: “The pitcher struck him out with a wicked screwball.”
noun
1
A baseball pitch thrown with a twisting wrist motion that curves opposite to a normal curveball.
"The pitcher struck him out with a wicked screwball."
2
(informal) A person who acts in an eccentric or crazy way.
"Her uncle is a real screwball who collects traffic cones."
adj
1
Eccentric, zany, or absurd, especially in a comic way.
"The film is a classic screwball comedy from the 1930s."
"They had a screwball plan to drive cross-country in a golf cart."
How to use screwball
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither an oddly-spinning baseball pitch, or (informally) someone or something wonderfully eccentric.
Common pairings
screwball comedy
a real screwball
throw a screwball
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Word forms
- Plural
- screwballs
- Comparative
- more screwball
- Superlative
- most screwball
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The pitcher struck him out with a wicked _____.
Etymology
From screw + ball, describing the pitch's odd twisting motion; the sense of "crazy person" grew out of that same idea of something spinning off in an unexpected direction.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “screwball” mean?
The word “screwball” means a baseball pitch thrown with a twisting wrist motion that curves opposite to a normal curveball. In plain terms, either an oddly-spinning baseball pitch, or (informally) someone or something wonderfully eccentric.
How do you pronounce “screwball”?
“Screwball” is pronounced SKROO-bawl (/ˈskɹuːbɔːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “screwball” in a sentence?
Here is “screwball” used in a sentence: “The pitcher struck him out with a wicked screwball.”
What part of speech is “screwball”?
Depending on how it is used, “screwball” can be a noun and an adjective.
How many meanings does “screwball” have?
“Screwball” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a baseball pitch thrown with a twisting wrist motion that curves opposite to a normal curveball.
