MADNESS Synonyms: 188 Similar and Opposite Words

madness

noun

ˈmad-nəs

Definition of madness

as in insanity

a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life nowadays certain forms of madness are quite treatable

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in simplicity

lack of good sense or judgment to do something so reckless would be sheer madness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in anger

an intense emotional state of displeasure with someone or something her incessant insults goaded him to such madness that he would storm around breaking dishes and slamming doors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of madness Does this guy go to a movie or play, or even read a book, to escape the madness? — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026 The three-time NBA MVP stood behind a gaggle of teammates squished up against the CU bench, quietly surveying the madness from the 15-yard line while twisting the cap of his bottled water. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026 The narrow streets around the sultan’s palace are filled with backpackers, street vendors, tour guides hawking their services, and office workers popping out for a coffee amid the madness. — Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 The director likens his own role on the trip to that of Bill, who is slowly driven to madness by worrying about a particular child, the class punching bag Kenneth (Olof Olingdahl). — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for madness

Recent Examples of Synonyms for madness

Noun

That sentence would have sounded like insanity a few decades ago, but in the strange world of Hollywood in the 2020s, weirder might really be better.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026
So this is just a build-up, and there is such insanity coming.

— Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of insanity

Noun

We are connected across continents in milliseconds, but too often separated by fear, anger, and mistrust.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
For property owners who poured their life savings into Camelot, the arrival of heavy machinery brings mounting anger over how local authorities handled the complex's long, troubled decline.

— La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of anger

Noun

Other symptoms include mild dementia that involves short-term memory loss, a lack of interest in daily activities and difficulty completing routine tasks.

— Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
As a final demonstration of this approach’s promise, the researchers designed zinc proteases that could target proteins associated with neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of dementia

Noun

Use these Prime Day leftovers as a chance to restock cleaning essentials before the holiday hosting craziness begins.

— Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
Jacksonville has a successful Triple-A franchise, the Jumbo Shrimp, that won its league last year, bringing fun theme nights, quirky mascots and between-inning craziness.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of craziness

Noun

Like its first season, season two of The Lowdown follows Ethan Hawke as Lee Raybon, a freelance journalist and bookstore owner in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a nose for trouble and a hefty dose of quixotic, self-righteous moral indignation.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Along with his signature rapid-fire, garrulous dialogue, Sorkin’s tendency for self-righteous indignation is very much in evidence.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of indignation

Noun

Set in 1959, the episode weaves the lie of female hysteria, misogyny, Cold War fears and pharmaceutical greed into one tremendous installment.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Russell turned the story into an extravagant examination of religious hysteria and political power, with stark white sets by Derek Jarman and an avant-garde score by Peter Maxwell Davies.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of hysteria

Noun

Platte County prosecutors have charged Brian David Martin with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action in what appears to be a road-rage incident that ended in a fatal crash.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
The hackneyed ruminations on feminine style are punctured by an image of violent female rage.

— Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of rage

Browse Nearby Words

mad money

madness

madras

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Madness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/madness. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of madness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on madness

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes