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Definition of "insane" []

  • Of, exhibiting, or afflicted with insanity. (adjective)
  • Characteristic of or associated with persons afflicted with insanity: an insane laugh; insane babbling. (adjective)
  • Intended for use by such persons: an insane asylum. (adjective)
  • Immoderate; wild: insane jealousy. (adjective)
  • Very foolish; absurd: took insane risks behind the wheel. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "insane" in a sentence
  • "The term insane is outdated parlance in the mental health community."
  • "Under Section 16 of Canada's Criminal Code, a person is deemed to be not criminally responsible the term 'insane' having been scrapped if the crime was committed while "suffering from a mental disorder that rendered the person incapable of appreciating the nature and quality of the act or omission or of knowing that it was wrong.""
  • "when hitler started the pracitice of euthenasia he started with his own people in the insane asylums, and the term insane back then is not what we consider it to be now.. a kid with ADD or midly slow could be "put down".. all part of the "not fit to work not fit for life" campiagn."