madness

noun

mad·ness | \ ˈmad-nəs

Definition of madness

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 & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about madness

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Synonyms & Antonyms for madness

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

mind, saneness, sanity

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

The loving wife of a blue-collar boss somehow crosses the line from quirkiness to madness. — Los Angeles Times, "Movies on TV this week Sept. 1 - 7, 2019: John Wayne in ‘The Searchers’ and more," 30 Aug. 2019 Is there a method to the madness or is something wrong? — Brian Stelter, CNN, "The hardest Trump story for the press to cover: His fitness for the job," 25 Aug. 2019 Today’s topics include: the need to get rid of the Orioles; Aristides Aquino, Barry Bonds's clone; Gary Thorne screaming for an end to the madness; and much more. — Jon Tayler, SI.com, "MLB Should Threaten Tanking Teams With Relegation," 13 Aug. 2019 In the long, lazy days before Alaska’s most bonkers fishery brings bedlam and blood to the beaches of Kenai, one of the state’s least likely and most laid-back fisheries exists as an ephemeral prelude to the madness. — Matt Tunseth, Anchorage Daily News, "Calm before the storm: Kenai halibut anglers kick back in advance of Alaska’s most frenetic fishery," 19 June 2019 However, the country is already polarized, which could be greatly contributed to the madness of the present executive administration of this country. — Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, "Democrat reads letter on House floor calling Trump supporters "racist" and "dumb"," 12 June 2019 Feminist scholarship had attempted to give Ophelia her due in the 1970s, reframing her madness as protest and rebellion. — Emily Rome, latimes.com, "Shakespeare’s Ophelia gets bold new makeovers in a film and a video game," 6 July 2019 Still, there was a deeply important method to his madness. — Chioma Nnadi, Vogue, "What I’ve Learned About Style From My Nigerian Father," 14 June 2019 Trump’s enablers in Congress helped put an end to the madness because something more important (to them) than the rule of law, civility, ethics, equality, global stability, mature policymaking, and the environment was at stake: Money. — Timothy L. O'brien, The Denver Post, "O’Brien: Donald Trump’s failures — like his abandoned tariffs on Mexico — make him even more dangerous," 10 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'madness.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for madness

madness

noun

mad·ness | \ ˈmad-nəs

Medical Definition of madness

1 : a severely disordered state of mind —not used technically

2 : any of several ailments of animals marked by frenzied behavior specifically : rabies

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madness

Definition of madness

Synonyms & Antonyms for madness

Examples of madness in a Sentence

First Known Use of madness

Medical Definition of madness

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