Lunacy: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe behavior that is extremely foolish or irrational. It can also be used in a historical or medical sense to describe mental illness.

• His decision to swim in the winter ocean was sheer lunacy.
• In medieval times, people with mental health issues were often said to suffer from lunacy.

A clinical term often used in a legal context or to describe a severe state of mental instability. It has a serious and dramatic connotation.

• Pleading insanity, the defendant avoided a prison sentence.
• Trying to do the same thing over and over expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

Can be used to describe extreme folly, dangerous chaos, or mental illness. It often carries a dramatic or historical flair.

• The madness of the crowd at the concert was overwhelming.
• His obsession with collecting cats reached a point of madness.

Informal term often used to refer to wild or unpredictable behavior. It is less severe and less clinical compared to other words in the group.

• The craziness of the festival was something I had never experienced before.
• Her ideas may sound like craziness, but some of them actually work.

Lunacy is often used to describe extreme foolishness or eccentric behavior, typically in a dramatic or severe context. It can have a slightly negative connotation.

• His idea of building a rollercoaster in his backyard was sheer lunacy
• They accused the new policy of being utter lunacy

Foolishness describes a lack of good sense or judgment and is often used in less dramatic or severe situations. It can imply a mild negative judgment.

• His foolishness got him into a lot of trouble
• She realized the foolishness of her actions and apologized

Irrationality is used to describe behavior or thoughts that lack logical reasoning or sound judgement, often in more formal or serious contexts.

• His fear of flying is based on irrationality rather than facts
• The decision was criticized for its sheer irrationality

Absurdity refers to something wildly unreasonable or illogical, often used in contexts where the situation is comically or ridiculously out of place.

• The absurdity of the situation made everyone laugh
• It’s an absurdity to think you can run a marathon without any training