Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Completely insane or irrational: Describes a state of extreme mental disturbance or wild, uncontrollable behavior. It emphasizes a loss of reason or sanity.
   • Extremely angry or excited: Used informally to describe someone who is furious or excessively enthusiastic about something.

Usage

• This adjective is typically used attributively (before a noun) or predictively (after a linking verb like "be" or "go").
• It is an intensifier; "raving" strengthens the meaning of "mad" to imply a very high degree.
• The tone is often hyperbolic or colloquial when not describing actual mental illness.

Examples

• Attributive use:
  • The politician was dismissed as a raving mad conspiracy theorist.
  • He was committed to an asylum after exhibiting raving mad behavior.
• Predictive use:
  • She'll go raving mad if she finds out you lost her keys.
  • After the team's loss, the coach was absolutely raving mad.

Advanced Usage

• "to be raving mad": to be in a state of extreme insanity or anger.
  • The character in the novel is raving mad, haunted by visions.
• "to drive someone raving mad": to cause someone to become extremely irritated or angry.
  • The constant noise from the construction site is driving me raving mad.

Variants and Related Words

• Raving (adverb/adjective): Used to emphasize an adjective (e.g., ) or describe irrational speech/behavior (e.g., ).
• Mad (adjective): Insane; very angry; very enthusiastic. (The core word intensified by "raving").
• Lunatic (noun/adjective): A person who is mentally ill, or behavior that is wildly foolish.

Synonyms

• Insane: In a state of mind that prevents normal perception, behavior, or social interaction.
• Deranged: Mad; insane.
• Furious: Extremely angry.
• Berserk: Out of control with anger or excitement; wild or frenzied.

Related Phrases

• Stark raving mad: An intensified form, meaning completely and unquestionably insane.
  • The idea that the earth is flat is stark raving mad.

Notes

• The term originates from the idea of someone who is "mad" and "raving"—speaking wildly or incoherently.
• In modern use, it is often figurative and used for strong emphasis rather than a clinical diagnosis. Caution is advised when using terms related to mental health.

Adjective

1. talking or behaving irrationally
   • a raving lunatic