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noun

madwoman

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Madwoman (noun) means a woman who is insane or severely mentally disturbed. Example: “The novel's narrator is dismissed by everyone as a madwoman, though her account later proves accurate.”

noun
1
A woman who is insane or severely mentally disturbed.
"A madwoman with cropped hair and staring eyes stumbled into the column just ahead of our party, shouted words no one could understand, and fled among the trees." — Gene Wolfe (1983)
"The novel's narrator is dismissed by everyone as a madwoman, though her account later proves accurate."

How to use madwoman

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old-fashioned, often insensitive word for a woman who is mentally ill or acting irrationally.

When to use it

Dated and can be considered offensive when applied to real people with mental illness; mostly seen now in literary or historical contexts.

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Word forms

Plural
madwomen
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Fill the gap

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The novel's narrator is dismissed by everyone as a _____, though her account later proves accurate.

Etymology

From mad + woman.

Rhymes for madwoman

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Frequently asked questions

What does “madwoman” mean?
The word “madwoman” means a woman who is insane or severely mentally disturbed. In plain terms, an old-fashioned, often insensitive word for a woman who is mentally ill or acting irrationally.
How do you use “madwoman” in a sentence?
Here is “madwoman” used in a sentence: “The novel's narrator is dismissed by everyone as a madwoman, though her account later proves accurate.”
What part of speech is “madwoman”?
“Madwoman” is a noun.
What is the meaning of madwoman?
"madwoman" (noun) means a woman who is insane or severely mentally disturbed.