1
as in excited
informal
showing urgent desire or interest
The friends are bonkers about the new video game, and play together for hours at a time.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in insane
informal + sometimes offensive
unable to think in a clear or sensible way
She spent her last years as a totally bonkers recluse in a decaying mansion.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bonkers
Hulu’s new show from the creator of Luther is a totally bonkers melange of sci-fi scenarios, global doom, and stabbiness.
—
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2018
Graffiti historian Roger Gastman—who helped orchestrate MOCA’s record-setting Art in the Streets show in 2011—takes over a 40,000-square-foot warehouse on the edge of Chinatown for a totally bonkers street art experience.
—Marielle Wakim, Los Angeles Magazine, 21 June 2018
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2018
Graffiti historian Roger Gastman—who helped orchestrate MOCA’s record-setting Art in the Streets show in 2011—takes over a 40,000-square-foot warehouse on the edge of Chinatown for a totally bonkers street art experience.
—Marielle Wakim, Los Angeles Magazine, 21 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bonkers
Adjective
-
Our family couldn’t be more excited to welcome baby #3 soon!—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
26 July 2025
-
While some seemed excited about Buck's sudden appearance, some speculated about the possibility of Stephanopoulos leaving the show.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
Amanda learned in like 10 seconds, which is insane.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Mar. 2025
-
The emu egg—a two pound, eight-inch ovoid with a sultry teal shell gently speckled in pale green—seemed like just the right absurdist final flourish for an already insane endeavor.—
Helen Rosner,
The New Yorker,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Florida Republicans are enthusiastic about Alligator Alcatraz.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
24 July 2025
-
While the race will be held at the Naval Base Coronado, the city is enthusiastic to host a Nascar weekend.—
Joseph Wolkin,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
Marketing and advertising have undergone a similar shift from mad men to math men.—
Kian Bakhtiari,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
Hurwitz is a descendant of Bernstein and the mad d.j.s, the heir to the most expressive of musical explainers and celebrants.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
The center is named after MaryAnn Wright, chair of the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit Board of Directors and an avid supporter and significant donor to the organization.—
Ava Nightingale,
Freep.com,
18 July 2025
-
According to several tributes online and a GoFundMe, Stewart was a former marine biologist who was an avid outdoors enthusiast.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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The counselor also told police Trotman had had a previous psychotic break in which he was found wandering the woods.—
Peter Hermann,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2023
-
Lewis prescribed Price anti-psychotic medication after a mental health referral Sept. 1.—
Thomas Saccente,
Arkansas Online,
17 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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Applications for the program will open later this year and the government is optimistic about strong interest from those eager to capitalize on this opportunity.—
Panorama Media Ltd,
Miami Herald,
14 July 2025
-
As growth in the region has pushed west and commercial development has accelerated beyond Boise, Idaho’s second-largest city has added jobs, boosted wages and caught the eye of employers eager to set up shop in a central location and cut their workers’ commute times.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Trump didn’t invent that, but no other politician has ever devoted himself to widening that gulf between the two factions with such maniacal commitment.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
14 July 2025
-
An evil clown turned serial killer who terrorizes a fictional New York City borough during Halloween and Christmas will join a maniacal lineup of murderers, mutants and monsters during this year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bonkers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bonkers. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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