grow mad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grow mad" in written English is correct and usable.
This phrase is used to describe someone's mental state getting worse, normally as a result of anger and frustration. Example sentence: His attempts to find the missing keys only made him grow mad.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In many Romantic ballets, a hero so obsessed might grow mad or even die.

The New York Times

Something rotten in Reading If Oscar Wilde were alive now, he might write a Ballad of Reading East, in which "some grow mad and all grow bad", because something is poisoning the political atmosphere in that constituency.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This is "a good deal deranged," indeed, and destined to grow madder with the arrival of Arthur, who turns out to be not the wavering reed that we expect but a doughy sluggard with "a sodden complexion".

The New Yorker

Verse - "Now England grows mad,".

Yale University

Nick Carter, considered the wildest of the Backstreet Boys, was also the group's youngest member when they began to dominate the music charts in the 1990s, and he recalls the days when he grew mad as an overworked teen who yearned for a normal life.

Independent

The rest grew mad with grief and mad with joy; and collecting various ornaments, some adorned the man himself with them as a hero, while others threw theirs into the chasm.

University of Chicago

As she was struggling to get away, growing madder and hotter by the minute, two women passersby stopped to watch her, one of them finally rapped on the window.

The New Yorker

Alizarin, the red dye present in madder, was the first natural pigment to be duplicated synthetically, in 1869, leading to the collapse of the market for naturally grown madder.

Wikipedia

"It helped create a real circuit," Nick Catchdubs continues, "a community that laid the groundwork for what Diplo would grow with Mad Decent, and what A-Trak and myself would grow with Fool's Gold".

Vice

Mar. 8, 2017, 5 48 p.m. Waring grimy boxers and a bowler festooned with foliage, gray-bearded Geoff Elliott prances onstage, portraying King Lear in a scene in which Shakespeare's mad monarch grows even madder.

Los Angeles Times

"I don't get mad when things grow like that," she said.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grow mad" to depict a gradual descent into a state of extreme agitation or irrationality, often due to overwhelming circumstances or obsession. This construction is often found in literature or historical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "grow mad" in everyday conversation, as it may sound overly dramatic or archaic. In contemporary contexts, simpler phrases like "get angry" or "lose your mind" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grow mad" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a process of becoming increasingly irrational or insane. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, but its usage is relatively rare in modern English. The provided examples demonstrate this usage in literary and descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grow mad" is grammatically correct but relatively uncommon in contemporary English. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It signifies a gradual descent into madness or extreme anger, often found in literary or descriptive contexts. While the phrase is understood, consider alternatives like "descend into madness" or "become enraged" for modern usage. Remember that using "grow mad" might make your writing sound archaic or overly dramatic, so choose your words carefully based on the context and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be driven mad

Suggests that an external force or situation causes the madness.

descend into madness

Suggests a gradual decline in mental stability, with a focus on the process.

become deranged

Indicates a state of mental disturbance or insanity.

lose one's mind

Indicates a loss of control over one's mental faculties, less formal.

become unhinged

Suggests a state of mental instability or derangement.

succumb to insanity

Implies a surrender to a state of madness, suggesting a lack of resistance.

become enraged

Implies a sudden and intense onset of anger, more specific than a gradual decline into madness.

go crazy

A more informal way to express losing control emotionally or mentally.

deteriorate mentally

Focuses on the decline of mental health, broader than just madness.

grow increasingly irrational

Emphasizes the loss of reason and logical thought.

FAQs

How can I use "grow mad" in a sentence?

You can use "grow mad" to describe a character's gradual descent into insanity or extreme anger. For example, "The isolation and constant pressure caused him to grow mad."

What does "grow mad" mean?

"Grow mad" means to gradually become insane or extremely angry, often as a result of difficult circumstances or obsessions.

What are some alternatives to "grow mad"?

Alternatives to "grow mad" include "descend into madness", "lose one's mind", or "become enraged", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "grow mad" a common phrase?

"Grow mad" is not a very common phrase in modern English; it is more frequently found in literature or historical contexts. Simpler and more common alternatives might be more appropriate in everyday conversation.