madness

noun

mad·​ness ˈmad-nəs 

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

c

: ecstasy, enthusiasm

d

: intense anger : rage

2

: any of several ailments of animals marked by frenzied behavior

specifically : rabies

Synonyms

• aberration
• dementia
• derangement
• insanity
• lunacy
• mania
• rage [archaic]

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

But what of the apologists for madness and criminality, the comfortable sophists who invert morality to score partisan points? —Matthew Continetti, National Review, 14 Dec. 2024

Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths Plenty of 2024 movies were of the mind that the only way to respond to a world gone mad is with more madness. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2024

Leaping into the frigid Arctic waters screamed madness. —Belinda Luksic, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Dec. 2024

The rest was the stuff of legends, madness in December. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing madness

• (a) method in/to one's madness

Medical Definition

madness

noun

mad·​ness ˈmad-nəs 

1

: a severely disordered state of mind

—not used technically

2

: any of several ailments of animals marked by frenzied behavior

specifically : rabies