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Definition of madwoman

madwoman

/ˈmædˌwʊm.ən/
mad · wom · an
Plural:madwomen
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madwoman Lexical Profile

madwoman Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A woman who behaves in a wildly foolish, reckless, or frantic manner.

Example

"She was rushing around the kitchen like a madwoman trying to get all five courses ready before the guests arrived."

2

A woman who is mentally ill or insane (now considered dated or offensive in clinical contexts, though still encountered in historical and literary settings).

Example

"Gothic novels of the nineteenth century frequently featured the trope of a mysterious madwoman locked away in an attic."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for madwoman

Word Nuance & Usage

Now avoided in medical or formal contexts when referring to actual mental illness; in contemporary speech, it is used almost exclusively in literary criticism or hyperbolically to describe reckless, frantic, or eccentric behavior.

• Rhymes for madwoman

• Nearby Words

madre de dios
madrid
madrigal
madwoman
mae
mae klong
mae ya

Cite this Entry

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