madness

noun

mad·​ness ˈmad-nəs How to pronounce madness (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being mad: such as
a
: a state of severe mental illness
not used technically
… fortifications against an inner darkness, the threat of madness that crouched above him throughout his life.Robert F. Moss
b
: behavior or thinking that is very foolish or dangerous : extreme folly
an idea that is pure/sheer madness
d
: intense anger : rage
2
: any of several ailments of animals marked by frenzied behavior
specifically : rabies

Examples of madness in a Sentence

He suffered a series of tragedies that nearly drove him to madness. Her friends told her the idea was pure madness, but she went through with it anyway. It was the height of madness for him to drive at such high speeds!
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Broadway’s spring madness is underway with shows opening on an almost nightly basis until the Tony deadline and the official end of the 2024-2025 season in a couple of weeks. Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025 The film satirizes the star-making machinery of Hollywood, with Harlow playing a popular actress attempting to find romance amid the madness of the industry that surrounds her. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025 Nights To Remember A lot of the magic of the Copa Libertadores comes in the madness of the group stages. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025 While flooding the zone with executive orders and breaking news in the form of planned chaos, there is generally a method to the madness. W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for madness

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of madness was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Madness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/madness. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

madness

noun
mad·​ness ˈmad-nəs How to pronounce madness (audio)
1
: a severely disordered state of mind
not used technically
2
: any of several ailments of animals marked by frenzied behavior
specifically : rabies

More from Merriam-Webster on madness

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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