make someone mad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make someone mad" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of causing someone to become angry. For example, "He said something that really made her mad."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"Either way, I'm going to make someone mad".

The New York Times

I'm not going to do anything that could make someone mad".

The New York Times

The government is arguing that the pictures could make someone mad enough to kill an American.

The New Yorker

To make someone mad, flirt with their significant other.

WikiHow

Be careful, you don't want to make someone mad by going up and talking to them.

WikiHow

One way to make someone mad is to belittle what she says or does by attributing it to her gender.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

She worried about upsetting staff or making someone mad – to the extent that she would not ask for things she needed.

The Guardian - Opinion

An important part of writing is to be able to say what is needed without making someone mad.

Science Magazine

They are always making someone mad.

Huffington Post

Therefore, never feel happy while making someone mad!

WikiHow

Paul McCartney has an entry for saying that he proposed to his second wife because of a message from an owl, which is chickenfeed by the superstitious standards of show-business.The temptation to make someone sound madder than they were must have been hard to resist.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where someone becomes angry, use "make someone mad" to clearly convey the action of causing anger.

Common error

Be mindful of the context; "mad" can sometimes be confused with "insane" or "crazy". Ensure your audience understands you mean "angry", especially in formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make someone mad" functions as a causative verb phrase, indicating the action of causing someone to become angry. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is a grammatically correct and usable expression. Examples show its usage in describing various situations leading to anger.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Wiki

44%

News & Media

41%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make someone mad" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe the act of causing someone to become angry. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s appropriate in many contexts, particularly in news, media, and informal settings. While widely understood, consider more formal alternatives like "anger someone" or "irritate someone" for professional or academic writing. Remember that "mad" in this context refers to anger, not insanity. When you want to describe a situation leading to someone's anger, "make someone mad" clearly communicates your point.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anger someone

A more direct and general term for causing anger.

infuriate someone

Focuses on causing intense anger or rage.

provoke someone

Suggests intentionally trying to make someone angry.

aggravate someone

Implies making someone's negative feelings or situation worse.

irritate someone

Implies causing annoyance or impatience.

antagonize someone

Suggests actively opposing or making someone dislike you.

rile someone up

An informal way of saying to excite or irritate someone.

drive someone crazy

An idiom for greatly annoying or frustrating someone.

vex someone

Means to annoy or worry someone, often with trivial matters.

get under someone's skin

Means to irritate or annoy someone persistently.

FAQs

How can I use "make someone mad" in a sentence?

You can use "make someone mad" to describe actions or situations that cause anger, such as "His constant complaining started to "make her mad"".

What is a more formal way to say "make someone mad"?

More formal alternatives include "anger someone", "infuriate someone", or "provoke someone" depending on the level of intensity you want to convey.

Is "make someone mad" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "make someone mad" is generally considered informal. For formal writing, consider using alternatives like "anger someone" or "irritate someone".

What's the difference between "make someone angry" and "make someone mad"?

The phrases are largely interchangeable. "Mad" is a synonym for "angry", but "make someone mad" might be perceived as slightly more informal than "make someone angry".