maddening

adjective

mad·​den·​ing ˈmad-niŋ 

ˈma-dᵊn-iŋ

1

: tending to disturb or drive mad

2

a

: tending to infuriate

b

: tending to vex : irritating

maddeningly

ˈmad-niŋ-lē 

ˈma-dᵊn-iŋ-

adverb

Synonyms of maddening

• frustrating
• annoying
• irritating
• disturbing

Examples of maddening in a Sentence

He has a maddening habit of interrupting other people.

She shows a maddening inability to control her children.

Recent Examples on the Web

The same applied to the maddening visual tests—find the traffic lights, the crosswalks, the bicycles, and teach computers to see better. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Her fitful vocals capture the chaos of love, the maddening ability of a partner to absolutely wreck a mind or heal it. — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 7 Aug. 2026

This is all the more maddening in Milwaukee because, in 2008, the Brewers tried their best. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026

More than enough time for the Rangers to finish a maddening third. — Mac Engel july 31, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1743, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for maddening

• saddening

Kids Definition

maddening

adjective

mad·​den·​ing

ˈmad-niŋ, 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: that irritates or angers

a maddening habit

maddeningly adverb