Bonkers

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈbɒŋkəz/

Definitions

1. Crazy or absurd, often used to describe a state of extreme irrationality or confusion
2. Unpredictably wild or eccentric in behavior or thought, suggesting a lack of sanity
3. Informally indicating something that is extraordinarily silly or nonsensical in a humorous way

Etymology: "Bonkers" is an informal adjective for something wildly silly or nonsensical, and its origin is uncertain. The most cited suggestion links it to "bonk," a word for a blow or punch on the head, which would make a "bonkers" person one who had been knocked dizzy. A related idea connects it to "bonce," an older British slang term for the head, so the sense would again be of a mind that has been rattled. Both theories rest on the same picture: a sharp knock to the skull producing muddled wits. The word's exact path into the language remains unclear, and no firm first-use date or originating author can be confirmed, so the link to "bonk" and "bonce" is best read as a plausible explanation rather than a settled history.

Synonyms: crazy, mad, insane

Antonyms: sane, rational