madness

B2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈmæd.nəs/ UK /ˈmad.nəs/ See IPA manual

Freq #3982

Meanings

1

noun
The state of being mentally ill; insanity.

The doctors feared that years of isolation had driven him to madness.
2

noun
Very foolish or reckless behaviour.

Spending your entire savings on a single bet is pure madness.
3

noun
A feeling of intense anger.

There was a flash of madness in his eyes when he heard the insult.
4

noun
Wild excitement or chaos.

The crowd erupted into madness when the home team scored the winning goal.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the state of being mentally... craziness derangement insanity lunacymental illness

2 noun · very foolish or reckless... folly

3 noun · a feeling of intense anger. fury rage

Opposites

sanity

Word family

Forms madnesses

Derived forms premadnesssemimadness

Etymology

From Middle English madnes, madnesse; equivalent to mad + -ness.

madnes Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# madness

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈmæd.nəs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈmad.nəs/
**Frequency rank:** 3982

## Meanings
1. The state of being mentally ill; insanity.
2. Very foolish or reckless behaviour.
3. A feeling of intense anger.
4. Wild excitement or chaos.

## Examples
- The doctors feared that years of isolation had driven him to madness.
- Spending your entire savings on a single bet is pure madness.
- There was a flash of madness in his eyes when he heard the insult.
- The crowd erupted into madness when the home team scored the winning goal.

## Antonyms
- sanity

## Derived Forms
- premadness
- semimadness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: madnes

## Etymology
From Middle English madnes, madnesse; equivalent to mad + -ness.

## AI Etymology
Madness comes from Middle English madnes, madnesse; equivalent to mad + -ness. In present-day English its meanings include the state of being mentally ill; insanity, very foolish or reckless behaviour, and a feeling of intense anger. Related and derived forms include premadness and semimadness.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

markdown