madness
n.-
1 foolish behavior (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatevery stupid or dangerous behavior that makes no sense.
extreme foolishness or lack of reason; behavior that is reckless or illogical.
ExampleIt would be absolute madness to drive through the mountains during a snowstorm.
ExampleThe decision to invest the entire pension fund in such a volatile market was sheer madness, as any financial advisor could have predicted.
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2 mental illness (n.) C1 Advanced Archaic Literary Medicinea state of serious mental illness.
a state of severe mental instability or disorder. This usage is often considered dated or insensitive in modern clinical contexts.
ExampleIn the old story, the king's madness grew worse as he lost his power.
ExampleThe novel explores the thin line between artistic genius and clinical madness, set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century London.
UsageIn modern medicine, specific terms like 'psychosis' or 'disorder' are preferred over this general term.
Teacher's tipThis sense is common in classic literature like Shakespeare, but students should avoid using it to describe mental health today.
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3 extreme anger (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Literarya state of being very angry.
a state of intense rage or fury.
ExampleIn a moment of madness, he shouted at his boss and quit his job.
ExampleThe protagonist was driven to a kind of cold madness by the betrayal, seeking revenge at any cost.
From Middle English madnes, madnesse; equivalent to mad + -ness.