MADDEN Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

madden

verb

ˈma-dᵊn

Definition of madden

as in to bother

to cause to go insane or as if insane the endless swarms of mosquitoes all but maddened the explorers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to infuriate

to make angry her perpetual tardiness maddened her friends to no end

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of madden Internet outages can be maddening, with ISPs often issuing vague statements about what happened. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026 The dark cellos of Guðnadóttir chop and grind, and Washington—shrieking, swiping, maddened at the air—flees into the forest, a disappearing uniform. — James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026 This could be maddening for a producer. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026 The way the Padres screw around this time of year is maddening. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for madden

Recent Examples of Synonyms for madden

Verb

Right-handed reliever Joel Peguero (left hamstring strain) will be shut down for the rest of the year due to a recurring hamstring strain that’s bothered him since spring training.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
McGarey’s son told his mom not to bother sending packages because people weren’t receiving them.

— Chris Quintana, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of bother

Verb

But maybe that low point and the unexpected departure of Stokes and the return of Joe Root as Test captain ahead of the white-ball skipper has proved a turning point for one of the most gifted but infuriating batters of his generation.

— Paul Newman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
There are a variety of reasons for this — from reasonable to infuriating — why those who paid higher prices won’t be getting refunds.

— Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of infuriate

Verb

Road construction can disturb natural hydrology, said Kate Groetzinger, the communications director for the Center for Western Priorities.

— Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 19 Aug. 2026
A couple of years ago, a neighbor’s trees were disturbing the view from their $3-million summer house on the coast of Maine.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of disturb

Verb

The White House had previously angered US ranchers by quadrupling low-tariff imports of Argentine beef to cool prices.

— Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
During a joint practice last summer in Houston, Moehrig decked Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson on a hard but clean hit that angered a few of Hutchinson’s teammates.

— Joseph Person, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of anger

Verb

The unnamed species was apparently a victim of a creature known as a Manhunter — not to be confused with the cartoons’ friendly, green, Oreo-munching Martian Manhunter.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
While preparing to enter the state in February, Buc-ee’s sued the northern Ohio holding company for Mickey Mart gas stations, arguing its Mickey the Moose logo could be confused with Buc-ee.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of confuse

Verb

The comment at a rally last Sunday titillated, provoked and enraged different audiences simultaneously, all but guaranteeing saturation news coverage and even more attention.

— Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
North Carolina and Bill Belichick got zero, no doubt enraging girlfriend Jordon Hudson.

— Greg Cote August 2, Miami Herald, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of enrage

Verb

Featuring an ensemble populated by killer character actors like Jacki Weaver, Luis Guzmán, Kurtwood Smith, Timothy Spall, and Michael Chernus, Perpetual Grace, LTD is an off-kilter neo-noir that mines deranged humor from its eccentric characters.

— Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026
Instagram demanded a certain sort of woman and then produced her, deranging broad swaths of the population in the process.

— Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026

Definition of derange

Verb

That was Gardner’s first game with the Colts after being acquired from the New York Jets, and while Indy pulled out the OT victory, Gardner was still annoyed by some of the social media chatter afterward.

— James Boyd, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Debt collectors also can't repeatedly call with the intent to annoy, abuse or harass you.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of annoy

Browse Nearby Words

madded

madden

maddened

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Style

“Madden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/madden. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of madden

verb

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