madhouse
11 synonyms and 0 antonyms 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.
How to use madhouse
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
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terms, today almost always used figuratively for a chaotic, hectic place — the older sense of an asylum is considered outdated and insensitive.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.