Meaning

A person who acts in a capricious, impulsive, or reckless manner..

Definitions by Sense

1. A person who acts in a capricious, impulsive, or reckless manner.
2. (South Asia) A very foolish or irresponsible person; a fool, an idiot.
3. (obsolete, rare) An insane person; a lunatic.
4. Capricious, impulsive, or reckless; also, bizarre, crazy, zany; or foolish, idiotic.

Example Sentences

Near-synonyms: mad lad, madlad

Come-on you mad-cap: Ile to the Ale-houſe vvith you preſently; […]

There vvas then in preſence, a certaine old Knight, called Sir Hugh Linne, a good ſouldier, but a very mad-cap, & one that liued chiefely vpon the liberalitie of noble men; […]

Lord, that ſuch a Mad-Cap as I ſhould ever live to be jealous!

I should like to have seen that noble old madcap Peterborough in his boots (he actually had the audacity to walk about Bath in boots!), with his blue ribbon and stars, and a cabbage under each arm, and a chicken in his hand, which he had been cheapening for his dinner.

[R]un around as he commands. He is a madcap and we must learn to live with him. We are in his hands.

VVhy vvhat a mad-cap hath heauen lent vs here?

Bel[lamont]. […] [W]hat place is this? / May[bery]. Bedlam iſt not? / Bel. VVhere theſe mad-men are, I neuer vvas amongſt them, as you loue me Gentlemen, lets ſee vvhat Greekes are vvithin. / […] / Bell. Pray beſtovv your name ſir vpon vs. / Full. My name is Full-moone. / Bell. You vvell deſerue this office good maiſter Full-moone: and vvhat mad-caps haue you in your houſe.

Word Forms

• madcaps
• mad-cap
• mad cap
• more madcap
• most madcap

Synonyms for madcap

Related Words

When Should You Use Madcap?

Use madcap when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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