madder; maddest
1
: arising from, indicative of, or marked by mental disorder
—not used technically
2
a
: completely unrestrained by reason and judgment : unable to think in a clear or sensible way
driven mad by the pain
mad with jealousy
b
: incapable of being explained or accounted for
a mad decision
3
informal
: intensely angry or displeased
What are you so mad about?
Everyone was mad about the delay.
That kind of behavior really gets me mad.
I'm so mad I could spit.
4
: carried away by enthusiasm or desire : extremely or excessively fond of or enthusiastic about something or someone
mad about horses
… there is a nouveau riche demographic mad for diamonds and Lamborghinis …—Kevin D. Williamson
—often used in combinationtrivia known to only the most movie-mad film buffs
a power-mad villain
money-mad
6
: marked by wild gaiety and merriment : hilarious
… of their childhood, of the mad pranks they played …—Winston Churchill
7
: intensely excited : frantic
… driving him mad with jealousy.—Edmund Wilson
8
: marked by intense and often chaotic activity : wild
a mad scramble
9
US, informal
: great in quantity, amount, extent, or degree
making mad money
Her performance won her mad respect from fans and peers alike, but the media response was tempered at best.—Joan Morgan
see also:
mutual assured destruction; mutually assured destruction
Cite this Entry
“Mad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mad. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.
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