What does screwiness mean?
Screwiness is an informal noun meaning foolishness, irrationality, or behavior that displays a lack of sound judgment. It is often stronger and more colorful than simply saying that someone has made a mistake, suggesting that the mistake is absurd, ill-conceived, or irresponsible. The word commonly appears in expressions such as “a touch of screwiness” and “the height of screwiness.” It can describe a person, an action, a plan, or an imagined situation: a scheme may be dismissed as pure screwiness, while a fictional character may possess an eccentric charm associated with screwiness. Although its sound resembles “shrewdness,” its meaning is effectively the opposite: screwiness implies foolishness rather than clever judgment. In critical and humorous contexts, however, the term can suggest playful eccentricity rather than genuine stupidity or bad conduct.
nounThe quality of being crazy, foolish, or lacking sound judgment; irrational or irresponsible behavior.
- Foolishness, irrationality, or irresponsible behavior.
"Her plans for spending the entire inheritance on a private submarine were pure screwiness."
"The decision to leave the passports at home was an example of sheer screwiness."
"The comedy derives its charm from the screwiness of its eccentric characters."
Usually used as an uncountable noun; the plural is uncommon but possible when referring to separate instances of foolish behavior.
"The novel's comic screwinesses come from its sharply observed characters."
Screwiness sounds like shrewdness, but where shrewdness is clever, screwiness is wonderfully, often disastrously, foolish.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does screwiness come from?
The word is English in origin and is formed from “screw” together with the suffix “-iness,” meaning the quality or state of being. By the nineteenth century, “screwiness” had developed from the older informal sense of “screw” as a term for a crazy or foolish person. Its development therefore follows the broader use of “screw” in expressions meaning to act irrationally or behave foolishly.
Related word forms
How screwiness is actually used
Informal and generally dismissive, though it can also be used humorously or affectionately. It is usually an uncountable noun and is often modified by words such as “sheer,” “utter,” or “mild.”
Easily confused with screwiness
Screwiness means foolishness or irrationality, whereas shrewdness means cleverness and sound practical judgment.