1
as in insanity
a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life
nowadays certain forms of madness are quite treatable
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in simplicity
lack of good sense or judgment
to do something so reckless would be sheer madness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in anger
an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something
her incessant insults goaded him to such madness that he would storm around breaking dishes and slamming doors
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of madness
Those who are eager to drive further afield can explore the vast open Togoro Plains to the north, or brace the madness of Seronera, the nearest airstrip, an hour’s drive away.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
Buddy embraces the aesthetic of classic children’s television —complete with catchy songs and familiar tropes — before subverting it with a relentless descent into madness.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
Mechanics across the continent screwed, hammered and welded Sheila to keep her together, sometimes shaking their heads at the madness of it all.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Either way, madness can’t be normalized with more madness.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for madness
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
Buddy embraces the aesthetic of classic children’s television —complete with catchy songs and familiar tropes — before subverting it with a relentless descent into madness.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
Mechanics across the continent screwed, hammered and welded Sheila to keep her together, sometimes shaking their heads at the madness of it all.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Either way, madness can’t be normalized with more madness.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for madness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for madness
Noun
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The assassination attempt failed — and Hinckley was arrested, tried and found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982.—
Kelsie Cairns,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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His acquittal, which led to a public outcry, had an impact on the federal insanity defense — leading to a shift in the burden of proof.—
Katrina Kaufman,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This was the most straightforward, efficient episode of the season, pleasurable in its simplicity, with only one gimmick (the to-go orders) that barely made a difference to the episode’s outcome.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2026
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That simplicity is an advantage that baseball has over hockey, where everything moves so much faster and the plays don’t happen in discrete chunks.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In response to that outpouring of anger, the government said Starmer acknowledged fear within the community.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
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The anger is understandable, but it’s pointed in the wrong direction.—
Robert Johnson,
Rolling Stone,
1 May 2026
Noun
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But a new tool, the Brain Care Score, shows how lifestyle changes can be beneficial, cutting the risk of dementia.—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
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His wife recently raised more than $90,000 through GoFundMe to support his move into memory care following a dementia diagnosis.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But for now, the iconic Saratoga farm is a bucolic retreat from the craziness of Silicon Valley.—
Laura Ness,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2026
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But worry not, the podcast episode goes live tomorrow — alongside a new way to explore this craziness.—
Eric Mandel,
AJC.com,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Rhys, long an expert at instilling indignation with soulful sentiment, gets pushed further here.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
29 Apr. 2026
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Racing’s indignation over that, as well as that of anger in the general public, prompted the formation by Congress of a bill that would ban the slaughter of horses in the United States.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And that’s why there was a minor case of hysteria when Hillsborough County officials recently suggested the team’s June 1 deadline of finalizing the agreement would not likely be accommodated.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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The series has devolved into a hysteria that the young and arrogant Timberwolves feed on since that first quarter of Game 2.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For one thing, when extremely evil people never seem to get their righteous and fiery comeuppance, my rage can curdle a bit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
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Hathaway’s Catwoman is one of her best takes on feminine rage, juggling a sense of righteousness and nihilism that might clang unconvincingly in the hands of a different performer.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Madness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/madness. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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