insanity

[ɪnˈsænəti]

insanity Definition

• 1. the state of being seriously mentally ill; madness
• 2. extreme foolishness or irrationality

Using insanity: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "insanity" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The defendant pleaded insanity as a defense.

• Example

  The idea that the earth is flat is pure insanity.

• Example

  The company's decision to invest all their money in a failing project was an act of insanity.

insanity Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for insanity

• madness
• derangement
• dementia
• lunacy
• mental illness

Antonyms for insanity

• sanity
• reasonableness

Idioms Using insanity

• drive someone to insanity

  to cause someone to become mentally ill or lose their mind

  Example

  The constant noise from the construction site next door was driving her to insanity.

• be the height of insanity

  to be an extremely foolish or irrational thing to do

  Example

  Investing all your life savings in a get-rich-quick scheme is the height of insanity.

• have bats in the belfry

  to be crazy or mentally unstable

  Example

  I think he has bats in the belfry, he keeps talking to himself and laughing for no reason.

Phrases with insanity

• temporary insanity

  a defense used in court to argue that a person was not responsible for their actions due to a temporary mental illness or defect

  Example

  The defendant claimed temporary insanity as a defense for his crime.

• criminal insanity

  a legal term used to describe a mental state where a person is unable to distinguish right from wrong, and therefore cannot be held responsible for their criminal actions

  Example

  The court declared him not guilty by reason of criminal insanity.

• feigned insanity

  pretending to be insane, usually to avoid punishment or to gain some other advantage

  Example

  He tried to avoid going to jail by feigning insanity, but the court saw through his act.

Origins of insanity

from Latin 'insanitas', meaning 'unhealthiness'

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Summary: insanity in Brief

The term 'insanity' [ɪnˈsænəti] refers to a state of serious mental illness or madness, as well as extreme foolishness or irrationality. It can be used in legal contexts, such as 'The defendant pleaded insanity as a defense,' or in everyday language, such as 'The idea that the earth is flat is pure insanity.' The term also extends into phrases like 'drive someone to insanity,' and idioms like 'have bats in the belfry,' denoting craziness.