irrationality
Thought without reason
Irrationality is the quality of being unreasonable or contrary to logic.
It describes thinking or behavior that defies rational analysis: the irrationality of panic buying, the irrationality of his jealousy.
In mathematics, irrationality refers to numbers that cannot be expressed as simple fractions, like pi.
The word often carries judgment—calling something irrational implies it should submit to reason but doesn't.
Meaningless words or actions
- preposterousCompletely contrary to reason
- ludicrousAbsurdly unreasonable or inappropriate
- ridiculousInviting scorn through absurdity
- illogicalContrary to valid reasoning
unreasonable · senselessness · inane · farcical · outlandish · bizarre · incongruous · pointless
Severe mental illness
- lunacyExtreme irrational foolishness
- psychosisSevere reality detachment
- derangementDisturbed mental state
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
delirium · craziness · hysteria · dementia · neurosis · unhinged · disturbed · unstable
Emotional response to threat
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- jealousyResentful desire for another's advantages
- hatredIntense hostile aversion
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
hysteria · rage · envy · anxiety · obsession · phobia · paranoia · resentment
Baseless belief in omens
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- fanaticismObsessive, unreasoning dedication
- fundamentalismStrict adherence to core tenets
conspiracy · paranoia · denialism · pseudoscience · credulity · gullibility · zealotry · cult
Error in reasoning
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- illogicFaulty reasoning
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
- incoherenceFailure to make sense
unsoundness · invalidity · non-sequitur · self-contradiction · cherry-picking · doublethink · compartmentalization
Cannot be anticipated
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
arbitrary · volatile · inconsistent · chaotic · haphazard · mercurial · fickle · temperamental
Acting without forethought
- whimSudden arbitrary desire
- capriceUnpredictable urge or notion
- impetuosityHasty, unthinking action
- recklessnessCareless disregard for danger
urge · compulsion · knee-jerk · rashness · thoughtlessness · haste · impatience · hot-headedness
Instinctive immediate understanding
- primalFirst in origin
- visceralArising from deep instinct
- innateExisting since birth
- subconsciousBelow conscious awareness
unconscious · animalistic · primitive · unexamined · automatic · reflexive · hardwired · fight-or-flight
nonsense
Meaningless words or actions
- preposterousCompletely contrary to reason
- ludicrousAbsurdly unreasonable or inappropriate
- ridiculousInviting scorn through absurdity
illogical · unreasonable · senselessness · inane · farcical · outlandish · bizarre · incongruous · pointless · surreal
insanity
Severe mental illness
- lunacyExtreme irrational foolishness
- psychosisSevere reality detachment
- derangementDisturbed mental state
mania · delirium · craziness · hysteria · dementia · neurosis · unhinged · disturbed · unstable · breakdown
fear
Emotional response to threat
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- jealousyResentful desire for another's advantages
- hatredIntense hostile aversion
panic · hysteria · rage · envy · anxiety · obsession · phobia · paranoia · resentment · desperation
superstition
Baseless belief in omens
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
- fanaticismObsessive, unreasoning dedication
fundamentalism · conspiracy · paranoia · denialism · pseudoscience · credulity · gullibility · zealotry · cult · indoctrination
fallacy
Error in reasoning
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- illogicFaulty reasoning
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
incoherence · unsoundness · invalidity · non-sequitur · self-contradiction · cherry-picking · doublethink · compartmentalization
unpredictable
Cannot be anticipated
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
capricious · arbitrary · volatile · inconsistent · chaotic · haphazard · mercurial · fickle · temperamental · unhinged
spontaneity
Acting without forethought
- whimSudden arbitrary desire
- capriceUnpredictable urge or notion
- impetuosityHasty, unthinking action
recklessness · urge · compulsion · knee-jerk · rashness · thoughtlessness · haste · impatience · hot-headedness · unthinking
intuition
Instinctive immediate understanding
subconscious · unconscious · animalistic · primitive · unexamined · automatic · reflexive · hardwired · fight-or-flight · tribal
- unbelievableunbelievable, incredible, inconceivable, implausible, unthinkable
- irrationalityunreason, illogic, madness, insanity, lunacy
- Mental Confusionconfusion, mental fog, brain fog, delirium, disorientation
- mental flawsstupidity, ignorance, foolishness, dullness, obtuseness
- unreasonirrationalism, unreason, illogic, absurdity, madness
- judicial reviewjudicial review, constitutional review, mandamus, prohibition, judicial oversight
irrationalityrationality
Sound judgment quality
logic · reason · reasonableness · logical thinking · clear thinking
irrationalitysanity
Mental soundness
lucidity · clear-headedness · mental clarity · composure · self-possession
irrationalitysense
Perception or judgment
good sense · common sense · levelheadedness · prudence · sensibleness