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 of madness

• insanity
• dementia
• hysteria
• schizophrenia

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 first Big 12 tournament semifinal delivered the madness. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2026

The novel — the only one ever written by Plath — is a semiautobiographical tale of a young woman’s descent into madness while working a magazine internship in 1950s New York City. —Annie Harrigan, Billboard, 11 Mar. 2026

This tension leads to paranoia, madness, and, for some reason, an enormous spider the size of the CN Tower. —Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026

What unfolded was a back-and-forth nail-biter, the kind of game that makes conference tournament week feel like a preview of the madness ahead. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing madness

• (a) method in/to one's madness

Rhymes for madness

• badness
• gladness
• sadness

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