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Insane - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Insane means extremely foolish or irrational, often describing behavior or ideas that are wildly unreasonable. It can also refer to a severe mental illness causing a loss of contact with reality.

insane

/ɪnˈseɪn/ /ɪnˈseɪn/

Definition:

Mentally ill or extremely foolish; lacking reason or sound judgment.

Synonyms:

crazy, mad, deranged, irrational

Part of Speech:

adjective

Antonyms:

sane, rational, reasonable

Common Collocations:

insane asylum, insane idea, insane laughter, insane amount

Derivatives:

insanely, insanity

Usage Tips:

Use "insane" to describe extreme irrationality or mental illness; avoid casual use to respect mental health concerns.

Common Phrases:

drive someone insane, insane in the membrane, work like crazy (colloquial)

Etymology:

From Latin "insanus," meaning "unsound in mind," combining "in-" (not) and "sanus" (healthy).

Examples:

  • 1. The idea sounded insane to everyone at the meeting.
  • 2. She laughed with an insane intensity that worried her friends.
  • 3. He was declared legally insane after the trial.
  • 4. The workload was insane last week—I barely slept!

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