crazily
/ˈkreɪzɪli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkreɪzɪli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkrā-z(ə-)lē/ (ame, mw)
crazily — adverb
1. Describes an action or decision that shows extremely poor judgment and a complet
Describes an action or decision that shows extremely poor judgment and a complete failure to think sensibly — for example, spending all your savings on something you cannot use.
Rania acted crazily by quitting her job before she had another one lined up.
act crazily + infinitive clause for unreasonable action
It would be crazily risky to put all your savings into a single new business.
modifies adjective: crazily risky
Hao decided crazily to walk home through the blizzard instead of waiting for the bus.
Folake thought a hundred-dollar gift was crazily expensive for a casual dinner invitation.
Paul was crazily naive to lend money to someone he had met only once.
- ridiculously
more common for intensifying adjectives (ridiculously cheap); less charged than crazily
- absurdly
slightly more formal; focuses on the lack of logic in the action
- foolishly
more neutral and less dramatic; simply means 'in a silly way'
- sensibly
describes careful, reasonable behaviour
- rationally
describes behaviour based on logic and reason
文法句型
crazily + verb (act, behave, decide)
crazily + adjective (risky, expensive)
用法筆記
Often used to intensify adjectives (crazily expensive, crazily complicated), similar to 'ridiculously'. Common in informal contexts when criticizing decisions or actions.
常見錯誤
2. in a way that is full of strong emotion, excitement, or physical energy and not
in a way that is full of strong emotion, excitement, or physical energy and not held back by normal rules or caution — for example, screaming and jumping at a sports event or laughing so hard you cannot stop.
The fans cheered crazily when their team scored the winning goal in overtime.
cheer crazily — crowd behaviour at a sports event
Paloma laughed crazily as the puppy chased its own tail across the kitchen floor.
Children ran crazily through the sprinklers, shrieking with joy on the hot afternoon.
The crowd at the concert danced crazily to the drums until the music stopped.
Dario drove crazily down the narrow street, forcing pedestrians to jump out of the way.
- wildly
very similar meaning; slightly more general and slightly less informal
- frantically
adds a sense of panic or desperate urgency that crazily does not carry
- madly
overlaps in meaning but is also used for romantic intensity (madly in love)
文法句型
crazily + verb (cheer, laugh, run, dance, drive)
用法筆記
Typically modifies verbs describing loud physical actions, emotional reactions, or energetic movement. Frequently appears in informal narratives about parties, celebrations, sports, and play.
常見錯誤
3. Describes behaviour or actions that are stereotypically linked to mental illness
Describes behaviour or actions that are stereotypically linked to mental illness — this usage is now widely considered offensive and disrespectful because it reinforces harmful stereotypes.
Romi kept talking crazily to herself on the bus, and other passengers moved away uncomfortably.
talking crazily — behaviour linked to mental illness stereotype
Using the word 'crazily' to describe someone's unusual behaviour is now considered hurtful and offensive.
meta-usage warning against this sense
The movie showed a character acting crazily, which many viewers considered unfair.
Outdated stereotypes of patients behaving crazily have harmed people seeking mental health care.
- irrationally
neutral and non-offensive; describes behaviour not based on reason
- erratically
neutral; describes unpredictable or inconsistent behaviour
文法句型
crazily + verb (talk, act, behave)
用法筆記
⚠️ OFFENSIVE. Avoid using this sense. It compares everyday behaviour to stereotypes of mental illness, which is hurtful and disrespectful to people with mental health conditions. Preferred alternatives include 'irrationally', 'erratically', 'strangely', or 'unusually' depending on context. Some dictionaries mark this sense as 'offensive' or 'disapproving'.