Need another word for Madness? Use these synonyms of Madness from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
insanity
lunacy
craziness
daftness
foolishness
silliness
absurdity
ridiculousness
preposterousness
irrationality
illogicalness
unreasonableness
hysterics
frenzy
chaos
turmoil
mayhem
bedlam
pandemonium
tumult
uproar
commotion
confusion
disarray
disorder
turmoil
anarchy
chaos
tumult
turbulence
instability
unpredictability
volatility
erraticness
capriciousness
whimsy
fantasy
delirium
hallucination
psychosis
neurosis
mania
hysteria
frenzy
furor
frenzy
rage
fury
ferocity
violence
brutality
savagery
barbarity
ferociousness
Meaning of Madness
The primary meaning of the word "madness" refers to a state of severe mental illness or disorder, or a state of frantic, chaotic, or uncontrollable behavior.
Definitions
- The state of being severely mentally ill, especially in a way that makes someone's behavior wild or unpredictable
- A state of frantic or chaotic behavior, especially one that is considered unreasonable or irrational
- An instance of extremely foolish or unwise behavior
Etymology of Madness
The word "madness" originated in the 14th century from the Old English word "mad" meaning "insane" or "foolish", which is also related to the Old Norse word "maðr" meaning "man" or "person", and the suffix "-ness" which forms a noun indicating a state or condition.
Example Uses
- The crowd's madness was palpable as they rushed to buy tickets to the sold-out concert
- The doctor diagnosed the patient with a form of madness that made her prone to violent outbursts
- The news of the economic downturn sent the stock market into madness, with stocks plummeting and investors panicking
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
sanity
rationality
reasonableness
sensibility
calmness
tranquility
serenity
peacefulness
orderliness
stability
predictability
normalcy
lucidity
coherence
soundness
levelheadedness
clearheadedness
composure
poise
balance
moderation
restraint
self-control
wisdom
prudence
caution
discretion
sobriety
sobriety
temperance
sensibleness