Angry vs. Mad: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on September 30, 2023
Angry refers to feeling upset due to displeasure or annoyance, while mad can mean both being insane and being extremely angry or irritated.
Key Differences
"Angry" and "mad" are both adjectives used to describe a state of anger or irritation, but they have different connotations and uses. "Angry" is a term primarily used to refer to a strong feeling of displeasure or hostility, typically as a reaction to being wronged or denied. On the other hand, "mad" can refer to a state of being mentally ill, as well as being furious or extremely angry.
"Angry" is generally considered a standard term to describe the emotion of anger, without any connotations related to mental health or sanity. It is commonly used to describe a person who is experiencing a feeling of displeasure or annoyance. Conversely, "mad" is more colloquial and informal and can imply a loss of control or rationality, either due to anger or insanity, depending on the context.
In terms of etymology, "angry" is derived from the Old Norse word "angra," meaning to grieve, and "mad" comes from the Old English "gemǣded," meaning to be out of one's mind. Despite their different origins, both words have evolved to have overlapping meanings in contemporary English, especially in American English, where "mad" is often used as a synonym for "angry."
In conclusion, while "angry" specifically refers to a state of irritation or displeasure, "mad" has a broader range of meanings, including being insane and being very angry. The use of "mad" to describe anger is more informal, and context is key to distinguishing whether it denotes anger or insanity.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Feeling upset due to displeasure or annoyance.
Can mean both being insane and being extremely angry.
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Connotation
Standard term for the emotion of anger.
More informal, can imply a loss of control or rationality.
Usage
Formal and Informal settings.
More colloquial and informal.
Etymology
Derived from Old Norse "angra."
Comes from Old English "gemǣded."
Related to Sanity
No
Yes
Angry and Mad Definitions
Angry
Showing strong resentment.
She wrote an angry letter to the editor.
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Mad
Extremely angry; furious.
He was mad about the betrayal.
Angry
Feeling displeasure or annoyance.
She was angry about the unfair decision.
Mad
Angry; resentful
Was mad about the broken vase.
Angry
Marked by strong irritation.
His face was red with angry frustration.
Mad
Mentally deranged
"afflicted with hypochondria, depression, and fear of going mad" (Carla Cantor).
Angry
Displaying or feeling aggression.
His angry demeanor intimidated his peers.
Mad
Characteristic of mental derangement
Mad laughter.
Angry
Provoked to anger.
He was angry at being excluded.
Mad
Temporarily or apparently deranged by violent sensations, emotions, or ideas
Was mad with jealousy.
Angry
Feeling or showing anger; incensed or enraged
Angry at my boss.
Angry with her.
Mad
Lacking restraint or reason; foolish
I was mad to have hired her in the first place.
Angry
Indicative of or resulting from anger
An angry silence.
Mad
Feeling or showing strong liking or enthusiasm
Mad about sports.
Angry
Having a menacing aspect; threatening
Angry clouds on the horizon.
Mad
Marked by a lack of restraint, especially by extreme excitement, confusion, or agitation
A mad scramble for the bus.
Angry
Chiefly New England & Midland US Inflamed and painful
An angry sore.
Mad
Exhibiting uncharacteristic aggressiveness, especially as a result of rabies, spongiform encephalopathy, or another neurological disease. Used of animals
A mad dog.
A mad cow.
Angry
Displaying or feeling anger.
His face became angry.
An angry mob started looting the warehouse.
Mad
Excellent; wonderful
It's really mad that they can come.
Angry
(said about a wound or a rash) inflamed and painful.
The broken glass left two angry cuts across my arm.
Mad
Abundant; great
Mad respect.
Angry
Dark and stormy, menacing.
Angry clouds raced across the sky.
Mad
To make or become mad; madden.
Angry
Troublesome; vexatious; rigorous.
God had provided a severe and angry education to chastise the forwardness of a young spirit.
Mad
Extremely; very
This place is mad cool.
Angry
Inflamed and painful, as a sore.
Mad
Insane; crazy, mentally deranged.
You want to spend $1000 on a pair of shoes? Are you mad?
He's got this mad idea that he's irresistible to women.
Angry
Touched with anger; under the emotion of anger; feeling resentment; enraged; - followed generally by with before a person, and at before a thing.
Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves.
Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice?
Mad
Angry, annoyed.
Are you mad at me?
Angry
Showing anger; proceeding from anger; acting as if moved by anger; wearing the marks of anger; as, angry words or tones; an angry sky; angry waves.
Mad
Bizarre; incredible.
It's mad that I got that job back a day after being fired.
Angry
Red.
Sweet rose, whose hue, angry and brave.
Mad
Wildly confused or excited.
To be mad with terror, lust, or hatred
Angry
Sharp; keen; stimulated.
I never ate with angrier appetite.
Mad
Extremely foolish or unwise; irrational; imprudent.
Angry
Feeling or showing anger;
Angry at the weather
Angry customers
An angry silence
Sending angry letters to the papers
Mad
Extremely enthusiastic about; crazy about; infatuated with; overcome with desire for.
Aren't you just mad for that red dress?
Angry
(of the elements) as if showing violent anger;
Angry clouds on the horizon
Furious winds
The raging sea
Mad
(of animals) Abnormally ferocious or furious; or, rabid, affected with rabies.
A mad dog
Angry
Severely inflamed and painful;
An angry sore
Mad
Intensifier, signifying abundance or high quality of a thing; very, much or many.
I gotta give you mad props for scoring us those tickets.
Their lead guitarist has mad skills.
There are always mad girls at those parties.
Their lead guitarist has mad skills.
There are always mad girls at those parties.
Mad
(of a compass needle) Having impaired polarity.
Mad
Intensifier; to a large degree; extremely; exceedingly; very; unbelievably.
He was driving mad slow.
It's mad hot today.
He seems mad keen on her.
Mad
To be or become mad.
Mad
To madden, to anger, to frustrate.
Mad
Disordered in intellect; crazy; insane.
I have heard my grandsire say full oft,Extremity of griefs would make men mad.
Mad
Excited beyond self-control or the restraint of reason; inflamed by violent or uncontrollable desire, passion, or appetite; as, to be mad with terror, lust, or hatred; mad against political reform.
It is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.
And being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
Mad
Proceeding from, or indicating, madness; expressing distraction; prompted by infatuation, fury, or extreme rashness.
Mad wars destroy in one year the works of many years of peace.
The mad promise of Cleon was fulfilled.
Mad
Extravagant; immoderate.
Mad
Furious with rage, terror, or disease; - said of the lower animals; as, a mad bull; esp., having hydrophobia; rabid; as, a mad dog.
Mad
Angry; out of patience; vexed; as, to get mad at a person.
Mad
Having impaired polarity; - applied to a compass needle.
Mad
To make mad or furious; to madden.
Had I but seen thy picture in this plight,It would have madded me.
Mad
To be mad; to go mad; to rave. See Madding.
Festus said with great voice, Paul thou maddest.
Mad
An earthworm.
Mad
Roused to anger;
Stayed huffy a good while
She gets mad when you wake her up so early
Mad at his friend
Sore over a remark
Mad
Affected with madness or insanity;
A man who had gone mad
Mad
Marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion;
A crowd of delirious baseball fans
Something frantic in their gaiety
A mad whirl of pleasure
Mad
Very foolish;
Harebrained ideas
Took insane risks behind the wheel
A completely mad scheme to build a bridge between two mountains
Mad
Mentally ill; insane.
The story is about a mad scientist.
Mad
Carried away by enthusiasm or desire.
She is mad about classical music.
Mad
Marked by a lack of restraint.
There was a mad rush for the exit.
Mad
Foolish; unwise.
It was a mad decision to go without a plan.
FAQs
Does "angry" relate to feelings of hostility?
Yes, "angry" often relates to feelings of displeasure or hostility.
Can "angry" imply insanity?
No, "angry" specifically refers to feeling displeasure or annoyance and does not imply insanity.
Is "angry" formal or informal?
"Angry" can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Is "mad" colloquial and informal?
Yes, "mad" is more colloquial and informal than "angry."
Is "angry" derived from Old Norse?
Yes, "angry" is derived from the Old Norse word "angra."
Is "mad" derived from Old English?
Yes, "mad" is derived from the Old English "gemǣded."
Can "mad" be used to describe chaos?
Yes, "mad" can describe a situation marked by chaos or a lack of restraint.
Can "mad" describe a state of enthusiasm or desire?
Yes, "mad" can describe being carried away by enthusiasm or desire.
Can "mad" imply a loss of control?
Yes, "mad" can imply a loss of control due to anger or insanity.
Can "angry" be used to describe strong resentment?
Yes, "angry" can describe displaying or feeling strong resentment.
Can "mad" refer to being extremely angry?
Yes, "mad" can mean being extremely angry or furious.
Is "angry" a standard term for anger?
Yes, "angry" is a standard term used to describe the emotion of anger.
Can "mad" denote foolishness?
Yes, "mad" can also denote acting foolishly or unwisely.
Is "angry" more specific than "mad"?
Yes, "angry" specifically refers to anger, while "mad" has several meanings.
Can "angry" refer to a provoked state of anger?
Yes, "angry" can refer to a state of being provoked to anger.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
