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
With the shape-shifting evil clown out of its cage, who will survive its madness?
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
The End of an Era captures the madness of life on the road for everyone swept up into the Swiftian whirlwind — not just the star, or even just the onstage performers, but the giant community that goes into making this tour go, from the crew to the creative team to her family.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2025
Every December, just when the year starts winding down and the holiday madness begins, the cosmos delivers even more sparkle as the Geminids sweep across the sky.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Set in a dystopian future past, the two lovers escape to a mythical city and along the way are confronted with both terrifying figures of the unconscious and joyful memories of the past that accelerate a descent into madness.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for madness
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Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
The End of an Era captures the madness of life on the road for everyone swept up into the Swiftian whirlwind — not just the star, or even just the onstage performers, but the giant community that goes into making this tour go, from the crew to the creative team to her family.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2025
Every December, just when the year starts winding down and the holiday madness begins, the cosmos delivers even more sparkle as the Geminids sweep across the sky.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Set in a dystopian future past, the two lovers escape to a mythical city and along the way are confronted with both terrifying figures of the unconscious and joyful memories of the past that accelerate a descent into madness.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 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 20 Dec. 2025.
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