Word
madder
Phoneticsmad·der, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmædɝ/
UK/mˈædɐ/
Definition
adj. more angry or crazy than something else. You use it to compare two feelings or reactions.
adj. more angry, insane, or enthusiastic than something else. Commonly followed by 'than' in comparative constructions.
Examples
“He gets madder every time his team loses.”
“She gets madder when drivers ignore the bus lane during rush hour.”
“Each delayed letter made him madder, not at the delay itself but at his own inability to accept waiting.”
Examples
simple
“He gets madder every time his team loses.”
contextual
“She gets madder when drivers ignore the bus lane during rush hour.”
complex
“Each delayed letter made him madder, not at the delay itself but at his own inability to accept waiting.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “madder” in context.
Verb
01. become madder
“The crowd became madder as the match went on.”
verb + adj
02. get madder
“She gets madder every time he arrives late.”
verb + adj
03. look madder
“You look madder now than you did this morning.”
verb + adj
04. make madder
“Please don't make him madder, he is already angry.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. even madder
“He got even madder when I laughed at his mistake.”
adv + adj
06. far madder
“The second game was far madder and louder than the first.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. madder idea
“That is a madder idea than driving at night.”
adj + noun
08. madder reaction
“I expected a madder reaction from our teacher.”
adj + noun
09. madder stare
“He gave me a madder stare than his brother did.”
adj + noun
10. even madder than before
“He was even madder than before when he saw the mess.”
11. get madder and madder
“She got madder and madder while waiting for the late bus.”
12. madder than ever before
“The fans were madder than ever before after the loss.”
Usage
Comparative of 'mad'; commonly pairs with 'than' in comparisons.
Etymology
From Middle English mader, madere, mædere, from Old English mædere, mæddre, mædre, from Proto-Germanic madarǭ (compare Swedish måra, Old Norse / Icelandic maðra), from Proto-Indo-European modʰro-, cognate with Proto-Slavic *modrъ (“blue”), and compare Irish madar (“madder”), Latvian madara (“madder”).
Inflected forms.
From Irish meadar.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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