1. people who are mentally ill or behave in a very foolish way
Usage: often considered offensive when referring to mental illness

Examples

• The asylum was built to house lunatics in the 19th century.
• He called the reckless drivers lunatics.
• Only lunatics would attempt such a dangerous stunt.
• The protesters were dismissed as lunatics by their opponents.
• She thought her neighbors were lunatics for their bizarre behavior.
• The old term ‘lunatics’ is no longer used in medical contexts.