Nutjobs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A colloquial term used to describe individuals perceived as eccentric or mentally unstable; referring to people whose behavior is erratic or irrational; often implies a lack of sound judgment or common sense in their actions or beliefs
2. A slang expression for those who exhibit bizarre or unconventional behavior; indicates a person whose thoughts or actions may be considered irrational or nonsensical; typically carries a connotation of being out of touch with reality
3. An informal label for individuals regarded as crazy or kooky; denotes behavior that is deemed wildly impractical or absurd; frequently suggests a humorous or dismissive attitude toward their state of mind

Etymology: The term "nutjobs" is a colloquial and somewhat pejorative noun that emerged in English during the 20th century. It combines "nut," a slang term for a person considered eccentric or mentally unbalanced, with "job," a suffix used in informal English to label a type of person, often with a negative or humorous connotation. The slang use of "nut" to mean someone crazy or odd dates back to the early 20th century, likely derived from the idea of a hard nut being difficult to crack, metaphorically applied to a person's mental state. The addition of "job" in this context follows a pattern found in other informal labels such as "deadbeat" or "flakejob," where "job" emphasizes the person's defining characteristic as a kind of identity or role. Together, "nutjob" intensifies the sense of eccentricity or instability, often implying not just harmless oddness but a more disruptive or erratic behavior. The plural form "nutjobs" simply extends this to refer to multiple individuals exhibiting such traits. The word found its footing in conversational and popular culture, especially in the latter half of the 20th century, and is often used in informal speech or writing to describe people perceived as irrational or wildly unconventional.

Synonyms: crazy people, lunatics, madmen, kooks, wackos