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
Robert F. Moss
b
: behavior or thinking that is very foolish or dangerous : extreme folly
an idea that is pure/sheer madness
c
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
So, which teams have a chance to jump in the seedings, and which are concerned with making the road ahead more difficult when the madness begins?
—Tyler Small, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
The madness begins early this week in Nashville when the 2025 SEC Tournament kicks off with a battle between the No. 16 South Carolina Gamecocks and the No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
College basketball’s biggest month is here, and there’s no better way to watch the madness unfold over 67 games (for both the men's and women's tournaments) than on a massive 100-inch screen.
—Juhi Wadia, PCMAG, 11 Mar. 2025
At the heart of the ingenious multiverse madness in Everything Everywhere All at Once, the breakout indie hit from the Daniels, is a story about love.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for madness
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Tyler Small, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
The madness begins early this week in Nashville when the 2025 SEC Tournament kicks off with a battle between the No. 16 South Carolina Gamecocks and the No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
College basketball’s biggest month is here, and there’s no better way to watch the madness unfold over 67 games (for both the men's and women's tournaments) than on a massive 100-inch screen.
—Juhi Wadia, PCMAG, 11 Mar. 2025
At the heart of the ingenious multiverse madness in Everything Everywhere All at Once, the breakout indie hit from the Daniels, is a story about love.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for madness
Cite this Entry
“Madness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/madness. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
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