Word
madness
Phoneticsmad·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmædnəs/
UK/mˈædnəs/
Definitions
01foolish behavior
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. very stupid or dangerous behavior that makes no sense.
n. extreme foolishness or lack of reason; behavior that is reckless or illogical.
Español:locura
“It would be absolute madness to drive through the mountains during a snowstorm.”
“The decision to invest the entire pension fund in such a volatile market was sheer madness, as any financial advisor could have predicted.”
02mental illness
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Medicine Archaic · Literary
n. a state of serious mental illness.
n. a state of severe mental instability or disorder. This usage is often considered dated or insensitive in modern clinical contexts.
Español:locura
“In the old story, the king's madness grew worse as he lost his power.”
“The novel explores the thin line between artistic genius and clinical madness, set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century London.”
Usage
In modern medicine, specific terms like 'psychosis' or 'disorder' are preferred over this general term.
Teaching tip
This sense is common in classic literature like Shakespeare, but students should avoid using it to describe mental health today.
Antonyms
03extreme anger
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Literary
n. a state of being very angry.
n. a state of intense rage or fury.
“In a moment of madness, he shouted at his boss and quit his job.”
“The protagonist was driven to a kind of cold madness by the betrayal, seeking revenge at any cost.”
Real-World Examples
“Griffiths said that when they met for the first time, they recognised a streak of madness in each other that would fuel the next 30 years of work together.” Etymology
From Middle English madnes, madnesse; equivalent to mad + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/madness
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0