adjective / noun
gonzo
GAHN-zoh/ɡˈɑnzoʊ/
Wildly unconventional in an exaggerated personal style.
Her enormous spiral hat and wearable instruments create a gonzo spectacle.
Etymology
Probably related to Neapolitan gonzo, “rude, sottish,” the English adjective gained prominence in “gonzo journalism.” Thompson described it as a Boston word for “weird, bizarre,” matching its sense of wildly unconventional behavior or style.
In context
The player gets to witness some absolutely gnarly and gonzo gore that easily matches and exceeds those aforementioned classic Giallo-style exploitation flicks
More examples
- His gonzo comedy turns everyday frustrations into outrageous personal adventures.
- She practices gonzo journalism, making her own chaotic experiences central to the story.
- The magazine favors gonzo over detached reporting.
Forms
gonzo
Similar words
- outlandish
- Emphasizes startling oddness rather than an exaggerated personal voice.
- flamboyant
- Emphasizes showy display rather than bizarre or deeply personal expression.
- unconventional
- Describes departures from accepted norms without necessarily suggesting wild exaggeration.