Madman Is a Word Modern Writing Avoids
A madman is a person behaving wildly. The word is now largely restricted to figurative and historical use.
A madman is a person acting wildly or irrationally. Its status has changed sharply: applied to someone with a mental illness it is now considered stigmatising, and journalism and medicine avoid it. What survives is the figurative use — *driving like a madman*, *working like a madman* — where nobody is being diagnosed and no one objects.
- A wildly irrational person. *Driving like a madman.*
- Mad — angry, in American English. *He is mad at me.*
- Mad — insane, in British English. *Stark raving mad.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | madman | Like a madman. |
| Plural | madmen | A group of madmen. |
| Adjective | mad | Mad with rage. |
| Noun | madness | Sheer madness. |
| Verb | madden | A maddening delay. |
How it is used in a sentence
- He works like a madman.Figurative: with great intensity.
- In America, mad usually means angry.In Britain, insane.
- Mad as a hatter.From mercury poisoning in hat making.
Mad expressions
- Mad as a hatter — from mercury used in felt making
- Mad as a March hare — from hares' spring behaviour
- Like mad — with great energy
- Mad about — extremely keen on
- Madcap — impulsive and reckless
From *mad*, Old English *gemæd*, meaning changed or maimed, plus *man*.
Where does *mad as a hatter* come from?
Hat makers used mercury to treat felt, and chronic exposure caused tremors and confusion. The phrase predates Lewis Carroll's character.
Mad meaning angry or insane?
American English usually means angry; British English usually means insane. Context normally makes it clear.