zaninesshttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zaniness_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezaniness, n.
Revised 2024

zaninessnoun

  1. 1933–
    The state, condition, or quality of being zany; esp. imaginative or amusing unconventionality; humorously eccentric, absurd, or chaotic behaviour. Cf. zany adj.
    1. 1933
      The Marxes have rolled up quite a reputation for plain and fancy zaniness, but ‘Duck Soup’ is their best.
      Salt Lake Telegram 17 November (Home edition) 23/3
    2. 1960
      Ginsberg, for all his carefully cultivated (and natural) zaniness, is a writer far above Kerouac.
      Saturday Review (U.S.) 6 February 13/2
    3. 1985
      How could anything with Jerry Lewis not fall into a comic range somewhere between surrealistic zaniness and childish destructiveness?
      Listener 21 March 28/3
    4. 2022
      It's high-energy, non-stop zaniness, full of bonkers, off the wall humour.
      National Post (Canada) 4 November f12/3

Originally published as part of the entry for zany, n. & adj.

zaniness, n. was revised in March 2024.

zaniness, n. was last modified in June 2024.