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crazy
/ˈkreɪzi/
mentally ill or irrational
She was acting crazy after drinking too much coffee.
She was behaving in an irrational or wild manner.
formal
mentally ill or affected by a mental disorder
The doctor diagnosed him as crazy after years of erratic behavior.
The doctor determined he had a serious mental illness.
This is the most formal and clinical usage of the word.
informal
extremely foolish or irrational
It's crazy to drive so fast in this weather!
It's extremely foolish to drive so fast in bad weather.
Common in everyday speech to describe reckless or illogical behavior.
informal
very enthusiastic or passionate
She's crazy about her new puppy.
She is very excited and passionate about her new puppy.
Often used to describe strong positive emotions.
Collocations
crazy aboutvery enthusiastic aboutgo crazybecome very excited or upsetcrazy ideaa foolish or irrational plan
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning of 'crazy' can change dramatically based on context. Pay attention to the tone and situation to understand whether it's being used positively or negatively.
Gold Rule
Avoid in Formal Settings
When referring to mental illness, use more formal terms like 'mentally ill' or 'affected by a mental disorder' in professional or clinical contexts.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'crasy', from Old French 'crasie', from Latin 'crasis', meaning 'mixture', from Greek 'krasis', meaning 'mixture'. Originally referred to a mixture of good and bad qualities, later used to describe mental instability.
Usage Notes
The word 'crazy' is highly versatile and can be used in both positive and negative contexts. It is commonly used in informal speech but can be considered offensive in formal or clinical settings when referring to mental illness.
Word Breakdown
cra
possibly from Latin 'crasis' (mixture)
root-zy
possibly influenced by 'manic' or 'maniac'
suffixEnglish Dictionary