complete lunacy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complete lunacy" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to something that is completely absurd or crazy. Example: The politician's proposal to build a wall around the entire country is complete lunacy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

As with so many parenting matters, this is a practice that some people view as efficient and reasonable and others regard as complete lunacy.

The New York Times

Thames river pageants have always been a mixture of the grand and the loony, and this one looks like it is going to have elements of complete lunacy.

The Guardian

It surely must seem like complete lunacy to an administration that has devoted a lot of energy to making sure the city seems more like Shanghai and less like Cleveland to argue for keeping things more or less as they are.

The New York Times

Comparing today's market with any market in the past is complete lunacy — name one aspect of today's market that's analogous to the market of 1929.

Forbes

This is complete lunacy.

Huffington Post

And he says a lot of stuff that just sounds like complete lunacy.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Alan Duncan, the shadow Commons leader, accused the Government of "treading rapidly into realms of complete and utter lunacy".

Independent

"Now, that is the gleam of utter lunacy piercing through".

The New Yorker

It is a truly amazing song, but what a completely bonkers bananas insane bit of complete insane lunacy.

The Guardian - Music

Other opponents of the agreement have suggested that the Bush administration wants control of Alcantara as part of its missile shield program, a contention that an American official dismissed as "lunacy, a complete falsification".

The New York Times

To celebrate the arrival of his new feature, Lunacy, which mixes live action with animated vignettes, Svankmajer will be in conversation on Tuesday with a complete retrospective to follow, including features Alice, Faust and Little Otik and rare shorts.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "complete lunacy" to express strong disapproval or disbelief about an idea or action that seems utterly foolish or irrational. It's most effective when emphasizing the extreme nature of the absurdity.

Common error

Avoid using "complete lunacy" in highly formal or professional settings where a more nuanced or diplomatic expression of disagreement is appropriate. Opt for phrases like "highly impractical" or "unlikely to succeed" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complete lunacy" functions as a noun phrase expressing strong disapproval or disbelief. It serves to label something as utterly absurd or irrational. This is consistent with Ludwig AI, which identifies the phrase as correct and commonly used. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in describing policies, ideas, or behaviors deemed highly unreasonable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "complete lunacy" is a noun phrase used to express strong disapproval of something considered utterly absurd or irrational. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage, particularly within news and media contexts. While grammatically sound, it's important to consider the formality of the situation, opting for more neutral alternatives in professional settings. Related phrases include "utter madness" and "absolute absurdity", offering similar connotations with slight variations in intensity. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, demonstrating its utility in expressing opinions and judgments on current events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utter madness

Replaces "lunacy" with "madness" and "complete" with "utter", emphasizing the extreme irrationality.

pure insanity

Uses a stronger term, "insanity", to convey extreme foolishness.

absolute absurdity

Substitutes both words to focus on the nonsensical nature of something.

patent absurdity

Emphasizes the obvious and undeniable nature of the absurdity.

total irrationality

Highlights the absence of logical thought or reason.

outright foolishness

Highlights the blatant and obvious nature of the foolish action or idea.

sheer foolishness

Emphasizes the lack of wisdom or good judgement.

unmitigated idiocy

Focuses on the lack of intelligence or understanding.

arrant nonsense

Conveys the idea that something is completely without sense or meaning.

downright craziness

An informal phrase that emphasizes the wild or unpredictable nature.

FAQs

How can I use "complete lunacy" in a sentence?

You can use "complete lunacy" to describe something that is utterly absurd or irrational. For example, "His plan to fund the project with borrowed money is "complete lunacy"".

What are some alternatives to saying "complete lunacy"?

You can use alternatives like "utter madness", "absolute absurdity", or "sheer foolishness" depending on the context.

Is "complete lunacy" formal or informal?

"Complete lunacy" leans towards the informal side. While understandable in most contexts, it might be best to use more neutral language in formal settings.

What does "complete lunacy" actually mean?

The phrase "complete lunacy" means something is entirely senseless, foolish, or irrational, going beyond mere error into the realm of extreme absurdity.