Madness Meaning
/ˈmad.nəs/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe state of being mad; insanity; mental disease.
nounThe state of being angry.
Sentence Examples
It's the height of madness to say so.
Genius and madness are but a hairbreadth away from each other.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The crowd's wild behavior and irrational shouts were signs of collective ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It was sheer ____ to try and drive through the heavy snowstorm when the roads were so dangerous today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English madnes, madnesse; equivalent to mad + -ness.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Though this be madneſſe, / Yet there is Method in 't: […]"
— c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 261, column 2:
"You were lonely for a man
I said, "Take me as I am"
'Cause you might enjoy some madness for a while"
— 1980 March 7, Billy Joel, “You May Be Right”, in Glass Houses:
"Shepard: What's wrong with your assistant?
Dr. Warren: Manuel has a brilliant mind, but he's always been a bit... unstable. Genius and madness are two sides of the same coin.
Dr. Manuel: Is it madness to see the future? To see the destruction rushing towards us? To understand there is no escape? No hope? No, I am not mad. I'm the only sane one left!
Dr. Warren: I gave him an extra dose of his meds after the attack."
— 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Eden Prime:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The crowd's wild behavior and irrational shouts were signs of collective ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It was sheer ____ to try and drive through the heavy snowstorm when the roads were so dangerous today.