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Synonyms

wild-eyed

American  
[wahyld-ahyd] / ˈwaɪldˌaɪd /

adjective

  1. having an angry, insane, or distressed expression in the eyes.

  2. extremely irrational, senseless, or radical.

    a wild-eyed scheme.


wild-eyed British  

adjective

  1. glaring in an angry, distracted, or wild manner

  2. ill-conceived or totally impracticable

"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

Etymology

Origin of wild-eyed

First recorded in 1810–20

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.

We recently suggested hedging in anticipation of a stock decline, but some investors will prefer to harness the wild-eyed enthusiasm of investor sentiment.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

But to her credit, Ms. Coon never turns the character into a wild-eyed hysteric or a manipulated figure of pure pathos.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

Looking at long-term charts of silver can be very sobering, and wild-eyed internet gurus, heavy on dark conspiracism with proclamations of $10,000 silver, are hardly reassuring.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 3, 2026

But others chafe at the bit to let loose the dogs of their wild-eyed fantasies.

From Slate • Oct. 6, 2025

Pale, wild-eyed, the Director glared about him in an agony of bewildered humiliation.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

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