Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
crackpot en · ADJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
Mostly likely a back-etymology of pot, to form crack + pot. Originally, from crack + pate.
Compare typologically Russian чо́кнутый (čóknutyj) (< чо́каться (čókatʹsja), onomatopoeic), see crack for the further typology.
Meanings
-
(informal) Eccentric or impractical.
a crackpot idea
While all this was happening Mr. Dies on February 1, 1943, in a long speech on the floor of the House attacked thirty-nine named Government employees as 'irresponsible, unrepresentative, crackpot, radical bureaucrats' and affiliates of 'communist front organizations.'
1946, Hugo Black, United States v. Lovett/Opinion of the Court:
Forms
Synonyms
eccentric · impractical
Translations (8)
bg ненормален (eccentric or impractical) · fr loufoque (eccentric or impractical) · bg ексцентричен (eccentric or impractical) · ru безумный (eccentric or impractical) · it folle (eccentric or impractical) · ru чо́кнутый (eccentric or impractical) · de spinnert (eccentric or impractical) · fi hassahtanut (eccentric or impractical)
crackpot en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
Mostly likely a back-etymology of pot, to form crack + pot. Originally, from crack + pate.
Compare typologically Russian чо́кнутый (čóknutyj) (< чо́каться (čókatʹsja), onomatopoeic), see crack for the further typology.
Meanings
-
(informal) An eccentric, crazy or foolish person.
No one plots like Gaston / Takes cheap shots like Gaston / Plans to persecute harmless crackpots like Gaston
1991, “Gaston (Reprise)”, in Howard Ashman (lyrics), Beauty and the Beast:The Police Commissioner sat studying Frank the Flower for several minutes. Then he called the policeman who had arrested Frank. “You will have to lock this man up,” he said. “But treat him gently. He is a harmless crackpot.”
1964, Jean Merrill, The Pushcart War:In the early 1990s, Ms. Feilding realized that the only way to overcome the taboo of these drugs — and her reputation as a crackpot — was to start a scientific foundation to fund research projects that governments and universities would never consider.
2025 June 12, Michael S. Rosenwald, “Amanda Feilding, Eccentric Countess Who Backed Psychedelic Meds, Dies at 82”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 12 Jun 2025:Time will tell whether he is a crackpot or a genius for promoting that sort of idea.
-
(informal) Someone addicted to crack cocaine (i.e. a drug addict).
Forms
Deriveds
crackpotology · crackpottery · crackpotitude · crackpot index · crackpotty
Synonyms
wingnut · whackjob · crackhead · fruitloop · basket case · psychoceramic · weirdo · dingbat · nutter · nutter · nutbar · live one · crack whore · wingnut · basket weaver · rum · lunatic · weirdling · bizarro · screwball · odd bod · nutcase · wastoid · strange fish · space pilot · wack · abuser · whacko · crank · crackpot · nutter · wackadoo · freak · strangeling · odd duck · weirdo · slave · nut ball · crazy · loony tune · wacko · crazy · crack · fiend · nutbar · fruit and nut case · odd fish · nutcase · nutbar · kook · queerdo · wackadoodle · addict · glaik · fruit cake · crackpot · queer fish · nutbag · nut · madhead · strange bird · nut ball · eccentric · nutjob · schizo · live one · space case · wacko · loony · kook · madcap · crank · eccentric · nutbag · kook · coot · oddity · hard case · unconventional · crazyhead · head case · nutcase · weirdie · space cadet · fruit loop · oddball · wild man · nutburger · psycho · mental case
Translations (14)
es tarambana (crazy person) · fr fêlé (crazy person) · sv galenpanna (crazy person) · it folle (crazy person) · pl świr (crazy person) · sk úchyl (crazy person) · es chiflado (crazy person) · ru безумец (crazy person) · de Spinner (crazy person) · sk blázon (crazy person) · ca boig (crazy person) · fr fou (crazy person) · ca sonat (crazy person) · it svitato (crazy person)