51Թ

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View synonyms for

zany

[ zey-nee ]

adjective

zanier, zaniest.
  1. ludicrously or whimsically comical; clownish.


noun

plural zanies.
  1. one who plays the clown or fool in order to amuse others.
  2. a comically wild or eccentric person.

    Synonyms: , ,

  3. a secondary stock character in old comedies who mimicked his master.
  4. a professional buffoon; clown.
  5. a silly person; simpleton.
  6. a slavish attendant or follower.

zany

/ ˈɪɪ /

adjective

  1. comical in an endearing way; imaginatively funny or comical, esp in behaviour
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a clown or buffoon, esp one in old comedies who imitated other performers with ludicrous effect
  2. a ludicrous or foolish person
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈԲ⾱, noun
  • ˈԾԱ, noun
  • ˈԾ, adverb
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • n· adverb
  • n·Ա n· noun
  • n· adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of zany1

1560–70; (< Middle French ) < Italian zan ( n ) i (later zanno ) a servant character in the commedia dell’arte, perhaps originally the character's name, the Upper Italian form of Tuscan Gianni, for Giovanni John
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of zany1

C16: from Italian zanni, from dialect (Venice and Lombardy) Zanni, nickname for Giovanni John; one of the traditional names for a clown
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But the show’s zany side has more in common with one of Shakespeare’s early rollicking comedies — “The Taming of the Shrew” en route to becoming “Kiss Me, Kate,” perhaps.

From

The Electric State follows Brown, Pratt and a succession of zany robots in an alternative version of 1990s America, where there has been a war between humans and intelligent bots.

From

"Renaming the Gulf of Mexico may be a zany new idea, but it isn't going to help people save money at the grocery store," Schumer said on Wednesday,

From

Cahoon’s approach to the role is so full of zany affectations and mannerisms that it’s hard to feel on intimate terms with Albin.

From

"Today’s young women know that neurotic isn’t cute. Cute isn’t cute. Neither is flustered, madcap, zany, flighty, flaky, harried or hapless - all adjectives that apply to Bridget."

From

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