nutty

adjective

nut·​ty ˈnə-tē How to pronounce nutty (audio)
nuttier; nuttiest
1
: having or producing nuts
nutty trees
2
: having a flavor like that of nuts
a nutty sauce
3
: eccentric, silly
a nutty professor
nutty ideas
also, sometimes offensive : mentally unsound
nuttily adverb
… the movie is so nuttily untethered to any semblance of reality that it's almost enjoyable. Elisabeth Vincentelli
nuttiness noun
The menu includes dishes like a rich pecan soup whose nuttiness is offset by chipotle chilies and tomatoes. Matt Lee et al.
It's not just Marlon Brando's nuttiness that makes this special—it's the gusto with which he wallows in his own nuttiness. Karen Schoemer

Examples of nutty in a Sentence

candy with a nutty taste the only other prisoner in the dungeon was a nutty soul who feasted on bugs
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The words of nutty and hard-nosed former college football coach Bo Pelini come to mind when trying figure out the direction of the UC program. Jason Williams, The Enquirer, 13 Mar. 2023 Unlike flavor-neutral simple syrup, maple syrup’s contribution to cocktails isn’t just sweetness, but also buttery, nutty, and vanilla flavors. Jordan MacKay, Outside Online, 27 Feb. 2023 Light, sweet, nutty and well balanced. Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2023 The soup is delicate, nutty, and simple. Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 12 Jan. 2023 See all Example Sentences for nutty 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of nutty was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near nutty

Cite this Entry

“Nutty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nutty. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

nutty

adjective
nut·​ty ˈnət-ē How to pronounce nutty (audio)
nuttier; nuttiest
1
: containing or suggesting nuts (as in flavor)
2
: not showing good sense
also, sometimes offensive : mentally unbalanced
nuttiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on nutty

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!