madwoman

[ mad-woom-uhn ]

noun

, plural mad·wom·en.

1. a woman who is or behaves as if insane.

madwoman

/ ˈmædwʊmən /

noun

1. a woman who is insane, esp one who behaves violently; lunatic

Word History and Origins

Origin of madwoman¹

1400–50; late Middle English. See mad, woman

Example Sentences

In everyday life, the saner party has an incentive to bail out of a relationship with a madman or madwoman and deal with someone more reasonable.

From Nautilus

Remember when “the madwoman in the attic” was more than just a metaphor for the female imagination?

From The Daily Beast

Remember when it signified an actual ... “madwoman”, in an actual ... “attic”?

From The Daily Beast

But why do voters in the sixth district of Minnesota want to be represented by a madwoman?

From The Daily Beast

I heard you calling for Lora before I met you—speak, tell me if she also is wandering out here like a madwoman, and why?

From Project Gutenberg

Then, with her hair streaming down her back, she ran about wailing like a madwoman in front of all the portraits of the General.

From Project Gutenberg

He rose too and leaned against the trunk of a tree, while she stormed and raved like a madwoman for some minutes in front of him.

From Project Gutenberg

Inside, there was an expanse of yellow pebbles, sulphur-coloured, like those which the madwoman had carried in her bag.

From Project Gutenberg

Would she come right, kiss, and make friends, and call herself a madwoman—a reckless fool—as she'd often done before?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• lunatic
• maniac
• psychopath