as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
she's always off on some screwball plan
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in eccentric
a person of odd or whimsical habits
a screwball who liked to save lint and bits of string
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of screwball
Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
What is Valentine’s Day without a fizzy screwball comedy?
—New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The best of all sports-movie subgenres, football films have given us great characters – real and fictional – and a bunch of awesome cinematic moments in everything from screwball comedies to real-life narratives.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for screwball
Adjective
Despite its screwball plot, this book will have you in a puddle of tears!
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
What is Valentine’s Day without a fizzy screwball comedy?
—New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
What is Valentine’s Day without a fizzy screwball comedy?
—New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The best of all sports-movie subgenres, football films have given us great characters – real and fictional – and a bunch of awesome cinematic moments in everything from screwball comedies to real-life narratives.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for screwball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for screwball
Adjective
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Not bad for a silly movie about killer worms from outer space.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
-
The idea seemed silly at first — who would be interested in a bean box subscription?—
Angela Osorio,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
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The town’s overflowing with charming Midwest eccentrics, including a cocky mayor (Henry Winkler) and a welcoming barkeep (Lena Headey).—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Those crazy, diverse individuals, that tribe of oddballs and eccentrics, dreamers, and gamblers who make up this business.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Still absurd to the average person, but a far cry from what Biles paid.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
-
As paranoia festers and absurd regulations tighten their grip, suspicion replaces love, and truth itself begins to warp.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This trio of characters is new to the franchise, though the biggest shift — in addition to seeing Rimura and company in breezy beachwear — is the focus on series mainstay Gobta (Ryan Reynolds; Asuna Tomari).—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
1 May 2026
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The series has attracted attention for, among other things, the size of Ilya’s ass, which, in MarcAurele’s adaptation, is its own character.—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Nothing gets Trump angrier than when one of his underlings is caught doing something stupid on videotape.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
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But to those going to an upcoming show, for the love of God please shut up when Raye is sharing this story; a quiet room isn’t a license to yell stupid nonsense.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But the scenes she’s devised for these sympathetically difficult oddballs go nowhere.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
All the sun’s planets are oddballs.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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If Florida is worried about China’s rise, dismantling educational and cultural exchanges is a foolish response.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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But the Stars should be trying to goad the Wild into foolish penalties.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Bringing his bag of insane tricks and witty banter to the Wilshire Ebell Theatre for two nights on May 8 and 9, Willman’s crowd work, storytelling and intricate tricks are inspired by everyday life.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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Just this insane profanity-laden tirade that went on and on and on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Screwball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/screwball. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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