madhouse
11 synonyms for madhouse, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — (dated) An institution for people with severe mental illness.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Bedlam
nuthouse
sanatorium
loony bin
nut house
snake pit
funny farm
booby hatch
crazy house
funny house
cuckoo's nest
How to use madhouse
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a total madhouse
turn into a madhouse
Avoid the literal "mental institution" sense in modern writing; it reads as dated and offensive. The figurative "chaotic place" sense is standard informal usage.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of mad and house.
Full origin of madhouse →Frequently asked questions
What does “madhouse” mean?
The word “madhouse” means (dated) An institution for people with severe mental illness. In plain terms, today almost always used figuratively for a chaotic, hectic place — the older sense of an asylum is considered outdated and insensitive.
How do you pronounce “madhouse”?
“Madhouse” is pronounced MAD-hows (/ˈmædˌhaʊs/ in IPA).
How do you use “madhouse” in a sentence?
Here is “madhouse” used in a sentence: “In Victorian novels, troubled characters were often threatened with the madhouse.”
What part of speech is “madhouse”?
“Madhouse” is a noun.
How many meanings does “madhouse” have?
“Madhouse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (dated) An institution for people with severe mental illness.
