Mad-eyed

Characterized by eyes that appear wild, crazed, or frenzied, often reflecting extreme excitement, fear, anger, or insanity. This adjective describes a gaze that is typically unfocused, wide, and possibly darting, suggesting a loss of control or an altered state of mind. The term evokes a sense of heightened emotional intensity and potential instability, often visually communicated through the appearance of the eyes themselves. The term also suggests a lack of rationality or clear thinking in the subject or person being described, and a departure from normal emotional responses. The appearance could be from an actual mental health struggle, or from a moment of intense emotion.

Mad-eyed meaning with examples

• The escaped prisoner, mad-eyed with desperation, scanned the crowd for a way out, his pupils dilated and reflecting the flashing police lights. He had been on the run for weeks, and the strain of his capture seemed to have warped his mind and his eyes betrayed the depths of his terror.
• Driven by a thirst for revenge, the warrior stood mad-eyed on the battlefield, his sword dripping with blood, his vision fixated on the enemy's line. The adrenaline was coursing through him and the adrenaline made him unbothered by any possible consequences from his actions.
• The dog, caught in the trap, was mad-eyed with pain and frustration, snapping its teeth and thrashing wildly. It had no possible way out, and its eyes reflected the hopelessness and the terror of the circumstance.
• After hearing the devastating news, she was mad-eyed, barely able to speak as she clutched her chest, her world now forever changed. The shock of the event caused her to be unable to properly register reality, as she dealt with the immediate reality and fear.