Definition

Describing someone who is mentally ill or behaves in a wildly foolish way.

Example

His lunatic ideas often left his friends confused.

Comparatives & Superlatives

Conversation

Did you see that movie about the lunatic who thought he could fly?

Yeah, it was so wild! I couldn't believe how crazy he was.

Right? Some of his decisions were just plain lunatic!

For sure! It made me wonder what goes through people's minds.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Lunatic → It is formed from "luna" (from Latin, meaning moon) and the suffix "-tic" (meaning pertaining to). The word "lunatic" originally referred to someone who was believed to be affected by the phases of the moon, particularly in relation to mental health.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'luna' which means moon, and remember that 'lunatic' refers to someone thought to be influenced by the moon.

Visually Confused Words