madcap

adjective

mad·​cap ˈmad-ˌkap How to pronounce madcap (audio)
: marked by capriciousness, recklessness, or foolishness
madcap noun

Examples of madcap in a Sentence

a madcap scheme to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel
Recent Examples on the Web The pair, who previously collaborated on the madcap 2018 period drama The Favourite and the mind-bending 2022 short Bleat, will be joined by a thrillingly starry ensemble: Hunter Schafer, Joe Alwyn, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Jesse Plemons, and Mamoudou Athie. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 An accompanying set of Takashi Murakami paintings riffs on the prints’ calm with madcap Surrealism. The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024 The scene shot that day not only made it into the film, but was a jumping-off point for Emma Stone’s madcap performance. Craigh Barboza, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024 In the hands of the endlessly inventive comedian, the tale of a boy who pulls himself up by his bootstraps and seeks out fame and fortune becomes a madcap delight complete with a zingy script, cartoonish punch-ups, collapsing sets, and a heady dose of magical realism. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2024 Amy wanted the show to have the speed of those old 40’s madcap comedy films. Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2024 Josh Groban stars as the titular demon barber of Fleet Street opposite Annaleigh Ashford as the deviously madcap Mrs. Lovett. Christian Holub, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2023 The madcap brightness of his artwork and music was informed by cartoons (Naruto, Fairly Odd Parents) and the radiant colors and patterns his parents wore. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 2 Feb. 2024 The duo of trios was slated to turn Starlet Room into some madcap version of an avant-garde folk-blues opium den in April, but a health scare derailed the plans. Aaron Davis, Sacramento Bee, 28 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'madcap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of madcap was in 1591

Dictionary Entries Near madcap

Cite this Entry

“Madcap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/madcap. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

madcap

adjective
mad·​cap ˈmad-ˌkap How to pronounce madcap (audio)
madcap noun

More from Merriam-Webster on madcap

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