madness
MAD-nuhs
Madness (noun) means a state of serious mental illness; insanity. Example: “The novel follows a king whose grief slowly drives him to madness.”
noun
1
A state of serious mental illness; insanity.
"The novel follows a king whose grief slowly drives him to madness."
"The old story described his slow descent into madness."
"Doctors eventually diagnosed the condition as a form of madness rather than simple exhaustion."
2
Wild, foolish, or reckless behaviour; extreme irrationality.
"It would be madness to go hiking in this storm without proper boots."
"Driving that fast in the fog was pure madness."
"There was a kind of madness to the crowd as ticket prices doubled overnight."
How to use madness
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither genuine mental illness, or (much more commonly today) an informal way of saying something is crazy, reckless, or chaotic.
Common mistake
In everyday speech "madness" almost always means reckless/chaotic, not clinical insanity — context makes the difference clear.
Common pairings
sheer madness
descend into madness
the madness of
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Word forms
- Plural
- madnesses
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The novel follows a king whose grief slowly drives him to _____.
Etymology
From Middle English madnes, built from mad plus the suffix -ness.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for madness
See all rhymes for madness →Frequently asked questions
What does “madness” mean?
The word “madness” means a state of serious mental illness; insanity. In plain terms, either genuine mental illness, or (much more commonly today) an informal way of saying something is crazy, reckless, or chaotic.
How do you pronounce “madness”?
“Madness” is pronounced MAD-nuhs (/ˈmæd.nəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “madness” in a sentence?
Here is “madness” used in a sentence: “The old story described his slow descent into madness.”
What is the opposite of “madness”?
The opposite of “madness” — its antonyms — is sanity.
What part of speech is “madness”?
“Madness” is a noun.
Where does the word “madness” come from?
The word “madness” comes from Middle English. From Middle English madnes, built from mad plus the suffix -ness.
Is “madness” a common word?
“Madness” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “madness” have?
“Madness” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a state of serious mental illness; insanity.
What is the difference between madness and insanity?
The two overlap in meaning serious mental illness, but insanity is more often used in clinical or legal contexts. Madness is more general and everyday, and it also covers wild, foolish, or reckless behaviour that has nothing to do with illness.
Is it insensitive to use madness for mental illness?
The sense of madness meaning serious mental illness is now considered dated and can seem insensitive, so clinical and careful writing avoids it. The other sense — wild, foolish, or reckless behaviour, as in "it would be madness to try" — remains common and neutral.
What are common expressions with madness?
Common phrases include "sheer madness," "utter madness," and "it's madness" to describe reckless or irrational actions. The saying "method in the madness" suggests hidden sense behind seemingly foolish behaviour.
What is the difference between madness and craziness?
Both can describe wild or irrational behaviour, but madness is a little stronger and more formal, while craziness is more casual and conversational. Madness can also carry the older meaning of serious mental illness, which craziness usually does not.
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