# madden

/ˈmædən/ (US) · /mˈædən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/madden
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to make angry

verb · CEFR B2

to make someone very angry or annoyed.

For teachers: to drive someone to a state of extreme irritation or fury. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The constant sound of the dripping tap started to madden him after an hour.
- The bureaucratic delays were enough to madden even the most patient applicants, leading to a series of formal complaints.

### 2. to make insane

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to make someone lose their mind or become crazy.

For teachers: to cause someone to become insane or to inflame them with uncontrollable passion. Often used in literary or dramatic contexts.

- In the story, the isolation of the island began to madden the sailors.
- The protagonist was maddened by grief, eventually losing his grip on reality as the winter progressed.

### 3. to become furious

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

to become very angry or act in a wild way.

For teachers: to become furious or act with insane rage. Intransitive — used without a direct object.

- The crowd began to madden as the gates remained closed.
- The poem describes a storm that seems to madden across the moor, destroying everything in its path.

## Examples

- The constant noise began to madden him.
- The endless delays and poor service madden the customers waiting in line.
- The protagonist's internal monologue reveals how the city's chaotic energy madden those who crave silence and order.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.