Quackiest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. The most extreme manifestation of being ludicrously unconventional or absurd
2. Exhibiting the highest degree of fraudulent behavior or lack of skill in a professional context
3. Representing the utmost level of deceit or incompetence in a person pretending to have expertise

Etymology: "Quackiest" is the superlative of "quacky," which is formed from "quack" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y." The suffix simply turns a noun into a descriptive adjective, so "quacky" means having the qualities of a quack, and "quackiest" marks the highest degree of that quality. The base word "quack" is the one with the more colourful story. It is an imitative word, based on the harsh cry of a duck, and it was used for a noisy, chattering person before it came to describe someone who pretends to medical skill. The sense of a fraudulent healer grew from that idea of empty noise, so a quack is someone whose claims make a lot of sound but offer little substance. Because "quacky" is built directly on that noun, its meaning shifted in the same direction: from the sound of a duck to the bluster of a pretender. The superlative "quackiest" is therefore best understood as the most fraudulent or least skilled of all, which is how the word is used today.

Synonyms: fakest, most fraudulent, most charlatan, most deceptive, most insincere

Antonyms: genuine, authentic, trustworthy, sincere, real