madcap

adjective

mad·​cap ˈmad-ˌkap How to pronounce madcap (audio)
Synonyms of madcapnext
: marked by capriciousness, recklessness, or foolishness
madcap noun

Examples of madcap in a Sentence

a madcap scheme to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel
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.
In 2017, the Suidlanders, a right-wing extremist group that has long predicted that a race war is imminent in South Africa, sent two charismatic speakers to the United States for a six-month madcap media tour. Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026 The book does feature suburban family malaise, and a masked party where the vibes are off, but its frenetic pace and undisguised artifice are more reminiscent of madcap detective fiction. Hannah Gold, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026 Tamma has a madcap quality, playful, very jokey. Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026 Hook, the bassist for New Order, served as a kind of player-coach at the Haçienda, helping manage its madcap affairs while his band became the club’s cash cow. Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for madcap

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of madcap was in 1591

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Madcap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/madcap. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

madcap

adjective
mad·​cap ˈmad-ˌkap How to pronounce madcap (audio)
madcap noun

More from Merriam-Webster on madcap

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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