Goofiest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Exhibiting an unparalleled level of silliness or absurdity while engaging in playful antics
2. Showing the highest degree of playful nonsense or clumsy behavior
3. Demonstrating an exceptional level of amusing awkwardness or ridiculousness

Etymology: "Goofiest" is the superlative of "goofy," and the adjective's roots lie in a noun meaning a foolish or silly person. "Goof" was that noun, and the English suffix "-y," which forms adjectives meaning "having the quality of," was added to it to make "goofy," meaning silly or foolish in the way a goof is. The word's best-known association, though, comes from a cartoon. Walt Disney's anthropomorphic dog Goofy, who had prominent buckteeth, took his name from the adjective. The sense "having crooked, especially protruding, front teeth" comes from that character's appearance, and a second sense, "riding with one's right foot forward," comes from the character surfing that way in the 1937 cartoon "Hawaiian Holiday."

Synonyms: silliest, foolishness, clumsiest

Antonyms: serious, sophisticated