c-r-a-z-e
CRAZE means an enthusiastic interest or activity that becomes very popular for a short period; a temporary fashion or trend that captures widespread attention.
16
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
CRAZE (noun) refers to an intense enthusiasm or obsession that sweeps through a population, typically characterized by its temporary nature and widespread adoption. As a verb, it means to produce a network of fine cracks on a surface, or to make someone insane or wildly enthusiastic.
In social contexts, a craze represents a collective behavior where large numbers of people become intensely interested in something for a brief period. Unlike trends, which develop gradually, crazes appear suddenly and often disappear just as quickly. They're driven by social contagion, where enthusiasm spreads rapidly through social networks.
The word captures the almost manic energy of mass phenomena, from dance crazes like the Twist to collecting crazes like Beanie Babies. Modern digital culture has accelerated the craze cycle, with viral challenges and memes spreading globally within hours rather than weeks.
The word "craze" has fascinating origins dating to the 14th century. It comes from Middle English "crasen," meaning "to break" or "to shatter," which itself derived from Old Norse "krasa" (to shatter). Originally, it referred to the physical cracking or breaking of objects, particularly pottery or glass. By the 1600s, the meaning evolved to include mental "cracking" or becoming insane. The modern sense of "temporary enthusiasm" emerged in the 1800s, connecting the idea of collective madness to popular phenomena.
•The Z (10 points) in CRAZE makes it particularly valuable
•High-value letters should be saved for double or triple letter score squares when possible
•CRAZE can be a game-winning play when used strategically
•The goldfish swallowing craze of 1939 started at Harvard when a student swallowed a live goldfish to win a $10 bet
""I played CRAZE on a triple word score and earned a huge number of points.""
""CRAZE is one of those words that can really boost your score in word games.""
"The latest fitness craze had everyone doing handstand pushups in the park."
"Historians studied how the tulip craze nearly bankrupted 17th century Holland."
Crazes exploit our tendency to follow the crowd. When we see others enthusiastically adopting something, our brains interpret this as evidence of value, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of adoption.
The temporary nature of crazes triggers urgency. People participate not just for enjoyment but from anxiety about being left out of a shared cultural moment.
Participating in crazes provides instant community membership. Whether it's fidget spinners or cryptocurrency, crazes offer ready-made tribes and conversation starters.
Total base points: 16 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 | Consonants: 3
The Z (10 points) makes CRAZE extremely valuable. With 16 base points, it's worth targeting double or triple word scores. The Z on a triple letter score alone adds 20 extra points.
CRAZE combines one high-value letter (Z) with common letters (C-3, R-1, A-1, E-1), making it easier to play than words with multiple rare letters. This balance of accessibility and value is ideal.
CRAZE becomes CRAZED (+2 points) or CRAZES (+5 points). The word also sets up excellent parallel plays with AZE, ZE, and similar combinations. Consider CRAZY (17 points) as an alternative.
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like CRAZE
Famous Crazes in History
Tulip Mania (1637)
Perhaps history's most famous craze, when tulip bulbs in Holland became so valuable that single bulbs sold for more than houses. The market crashed dramatically, teaching an early lesson about speculative bubbles.
Dance Crazes
From the Charleston in the 1920s to the Macarena in the 1990s, dance crazes have repeatedly swept nations. Each generation seems to produce its own signature moves that briefly unite people on dance floors worldwide.
Pet Rock (1975)
Gary Dahl sold over 1.5 million ordinary rocks as pets, complete with breathing holes and care instructions. This craze perfectly illustrates how marketing and social psychology can create demand for anything.