Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

off the deep end

ADJECTIVE
imprudent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
careless foolhardy foolish ill-advised ill-considered irresponsible reckless thoughtless unwise
WEAK
brash heedless ill-judged impolitic improvident incautious inconsiderate indiscreet inexpedient injudicious leaving self wide open overhasty playing with fire rash temerarious unadvisable unthinking
Antonyms
STRONGEST
attentive careful cautious kind mindful prudent responsible sensible thoughtful wise
WEAK
discreet
ADJECTIVE
risky
Synonyms
STRONGEST
delicate dicey hazardous perilous precarious sensitive speculative treacherous tricky uncertain unhealthy unsafe unsound
WEAK
chancy endangered fraught with danger going for broke hairy hanging by a thread iffy insecure jeopardous long shot not a prayer on slippery ground on thin ice on-the-spot out on a limb playing with fire rocky ticklish touch-and-go touchy venturesome wicked wide-open
Antonyms
STRONGEST
certain definite harmless healthy honest insensitive protected safe secure stable strong sure well
WEAK
assured

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.

Johnson is so cowed by accusations of fraud that he appears to have gone directly off the deep end.

From Salon • Jun. 27, 2025

Or so it seems — it’s only the halfway mark — as we ping-pong between screenings of revered directors leaping off the deep end, their former penchants for verisimilitude tossed aside.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2024

“People have problems, but you don’t expect them to go off the deep end like that,” Letarte said.

From Washington Times • Oct. 27, 2023

Last week, Vantage also sent customers waiting for refunds off the deep end when it experienced a security incident that knocked its site offline.

From Seattle Times • May 1, 2023

“Yeah, I probably scared the poop out of them, going off the deep end like that.”

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper