Phrase guide

madman theory

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An element of U.S. President Richard Nixon's foreign policy, by which Nixon was portrayed as irrational and volatile toward leaders of hostile Communist nations, with the aim of making them fearful of provoking the United States.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, historical

Topics: government, politics

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Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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