What does whackier mean?
Whackier is the comparative form of whacky, an informal adjective for something eccentric, unconventional, silly, or comically out of touch. Saying that one option is whackier means that it is more eccentric or irrational than another, often with a tone that is playful rather than seriously condemnatory. The word can describe plans, stories, characters, inventions, and behaviors, and it commonly implies exaggeration or absurdity. Its comparative form is especially natural in comparisons: the second robot was whackier than the first, or the sequel offered an even whackier twist. Because whackier belongs to an informal register, it generally suits conversation, comedy, reviews, and creative writing better than formal academic or legal prose. It can nevertheless be used seriously when a speaker wants to portray something as dangerously extreme or irrational. The spelling corresponds to whacky, a variant of the more established wacky in British and American English.
adjectiveThe comparative form of the informal adjective whacky: more whacky, and therefore more eccentric, unconventional, or comically irrational.
- More whacky; more eccentric, unconventional, silly, or irrational.
"The sequel had an even whackier plot than the original."
"As the conversation grew stranger, his explanations became increasingly whackier."
"The comic novel imagines a world where every household appliance has become whackier than the last."
When bizarre needs an extra notch, it gets whackier.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of whackier
Whackier was formed from whacky by adding the comparative suffix -ier. Whacky is an early-20th-century alteration of wacky, whose deeper origin remains uncertain. The spelling with wh- is common in American English and is also used in British English.
Related word forms
How whackier is actually used
Informal and often humorous, although it can also express genuine disapproval. As a comparative adjective, it normally appears in an explicit comparison or after “more.”
Easily confused with whackier
Whacky is the base adjective, while whackier is its comparative form, meaning “more whacky.”