Synonyms

stir-crazy

American

[stur-krey-zee] / ˈstɜrˌkreɪ zi /

adjective

Slang.

Informal. restless or frantic because of confinement, routine, etc..

I was stir-crazy after just two months of keeping house.
mentally ill because of long imprisonment.

stir-crazy British

adjective

slang mentally disturbed as a result of being in prison or otherwise confined

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

stir-craziness noun

Etymology

Origin of stir-crazy

First recorded in 1935–40; stir ² + crazy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He started to feel as stir-crazy in the home as Grace.

From Los Angeles Times

Ben had this idea, in order to stave off going stir-crazy and for us to be able to still connect musically with one another, why don’t we try this experimental telephone-style of writing.

From Seattle Times

And, to keep from going stir-crazy as they wait for the lesions to heal, they bond over a shared experience none of them asked for.

From BBC

When I was getting too stir-crazy, I would try to let Hank’s optimism shine through.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Goldsmith, 34, came to podcasting after prodding from a friend, hoping that it would make him feel less stir-crazy during the pandemic lockdowns.

From New York Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023