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Definition of madness

madness

/ˈmæd.nəs/
mad · ness
Adverb:madly
•
Plural:madnesses
•
Adjective:mad
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madness Lexical Profile

madness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Extremely foolish, reckless, or irrational behavior.

Example

"It would be sheer madness to attempt climbing the mountain during a blizzard."

2

The state of having a severe mental illness or disorder; insanity.

Example

"Shakespeare frequently explored the thin boundary between sanity and madness in his tragedies."

3

A state of wild, chaotic, or frenzied activity.

Example

"After the holiday shopping madness subsided, the store employees finally took a break."

4

Intense anger, rage, or fury.

Example

"In a moment of sudden madness, he slammed the door and walked out of the meeting."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for madness
Antonyms
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• Rhymes for madness

• Nearby Words

madison
madly
madman
madness
madonna
madonna falls
madonna lily

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'gemædnes', derived from 'gemæd' (foolish, insane, or injured in mind) plus the noun-forming suffix '-nes'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Madness. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/madness
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