madness

American  

[mad-nis] / ˈmæd nɪs /

noun

1. the state of being mad; insanity.

2. senseless folly.

   It is sheer madness to speak as you do.

3. frenzy; rage.

4. intense excitement or enthusiasm.

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madness British  

/ ˈmædnɪs /

noun

1. insanity; lunacy

2. extreme anger, excitement, or foolishness

3. a nontechnical word for rabies

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madness Idioms  

1. see method in one's madness.

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Other Word Forms

• premadness noun

Etymology

Origin of madness

First recorded in 1350–1400, madness is from the Middle English word madnesse. See mad, -ness

Example Sentences

Jackman, who has supported the club since Reynolds and Mac led it to global recognition, commented on the post, saying: "I'm telling him what he wants to happen?! The madness."

From BBC

"We barely see it happening ... because we are backstage in the madness and the chaos of it," she said.

From Barron's

Most operagoers before a recent matinee of Richard Wagner’s “Götterdämmerung” were looking forward to escaping the madness of a global sporting spectacle for the next 5½ hours.

From The Wall Street Journal

"This is madness," cried Neel the potter, unable to keep silent any longer.

From Literature

“But he always has a method to his madness.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absurdity
• craziness
• delusion
• foolishness
• hysteria
• lunacy
• mania
• mental illness
• stupidity