insanity

noun

in-ˈsa-nə-tē How to pronounce insanity (audio)
Definition of insanitynext
1
as in dementia
a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life his incurable insanity requires that he spend the rest of his life in a mental hospital

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2
as in absurdity
a foolish act or idea everyone laughed at the latest insanity from the town eccentric

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3
as in madness
lack of good sense or judgment had the insanity to think that taking over a government building in protest of our foreign policy was a good idea

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of insanity However, Rahmani notes that insanity defenses succeed in only a small percentage of cases. — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 Polisi compared the case to that of Andrea Yates, who in 2006 was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the murders of her five children in Texas. — Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to three counts of murder in the killings of her children Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 Edgar was expected to take the stand after voicing a desire to pursue an insanity defense, a request that delayed the trial in January. — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insanity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insanity
  1. dementia
  2. absurdity
  3. madness
  4. hysteria
  5. stupidity
  6. simplicity
  7. schizophrenia
  8. idiocy
Noun
  • Researchers noted that many cases of dementia were not captured on death certificates, suggesting the burden of neurodegenerative disease among former players may be underestimated.
    — Dr. Onaola Adedeji, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Among Americans over the age of 55, the lifetime risk of eventually developing any form of dementia is 42%, one study published last year in the journal Nature Medicine found.
    — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of dementia
Noun
  • By using two mediums to highlight the warm absurdity of the fairy-tale tropes, Enchanted cheekily celebrates what only animation can do.
    — James Grebey, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • However, others should not be forced to adhere to absurdity for the sake of feelings.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of absurdity
Noun
  • Can a squad of scientists (including Kurt Russell) fight off madness and mayhem before the Thing overtakes them all?
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
  • This week the madness leaps from the stage to the screen as Stamptown premieres its first Netflix special Tuesday.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of madness
Noun
  • The roughly 25-acre farm is also home to a reproduction of the Salem Village Meeting House, the site of many early hearings about the Salem witchcraft hysteria.
    — Nicholas DeRenzo, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Russia has rejected all accusations of espionage, portraying them as part of anti-Russian hysteria.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of hysteria
Noun
  • The latest contestant in this recurring game of fiscal stupidity is Miami.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
  • That’s only made worse by the fact that it’s treated as some kind of grand betrayal rather than an impulsive act of youthful stupidity that will make for a good story one day.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
Definition of stupidity
Noun
  • While Van Patten’s current makeup routine is all about simplicity, that wasn’t always the case.
    — Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Clinamen @ The Park Avenue Armory Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s Clinamen was mesmerizing in its simplicity.
    — Jesse Kirshbaum, SPIN, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of simplicity
Noun
  • AntiMood stabilizers support people who have mood swings because of conditions such as bipolar disorder, personality disorder and schizophrenia.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • He’d been diagnosed with schizophrenia, his autopsy report said.
    — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of schizophrenia
Noun
  • It’s been a classic staple over decades of British comedy, which from Basil Fawlty to David Brent has rejoiced in puncturing pomposity to reveal idiocy and incompetence.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The school board’s radical idiocy does not negate the state’s obligation to think about the longer haul — specifically, the structurally unbalanced budgets facing Chicago Public Schools as far as the eye can see.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of idiocy

Browse Nearby Words

insanities
insanity
insatiable
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Cite this Entry

“Insanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insanity. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on insanity

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about insanity

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