maddening 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmad-niŋ How to pronounce maddening (audio)
Definition of maddeningnext
as in frustrating
causing annoyance after a few days, she found the monotonous work to be absolutely maddening

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

maddening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of madden
1
as in disturbing
to cause to go insane or as if insane the endless swarms of mosquitoes all but maddened the explorers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in infuriating
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 maddening
Adjective
Capable of flashes of brilliance, but with maddening periods of inconsistency. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026 Little did the fans who instantly hurried to social media to voice their angst know their afternoon would end with a far more maddening play. — Mike Jones, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
Anthony Richardson possessed almost extraterrestrial talent but maddening inconsistency. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 Prices remain high and the roads maddening, but few Mediterranean islands offer so many convincing ways to reach sunrise. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maddening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maddening
  1. frustrating
  2. disturbing
  3. infuriating
  4. annoying
  5. confusing
  6. angering
  7. irritating
  8. distracting
Adjective
  • For residents like Joshua Walton, the scene was both emotional and frustrating.
    — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Sreemoy Talukdar, an editor for the Indian news website Firstpost, chalked it up to a frustrating Yankeeism.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of frustrating
Verb
  • The end result has given rise to an insidious and often disturbing form of violence that wins victims’ trust before preying upon them or coercing them into hurting others – for money, for social media clout or sometimes for no reason at all.
    — Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The new developments have been singled out for loud noise, polluting power generation, and for disturbing residential neighborhoods and natural landscapes.
    — Shannon Osaka, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Verb
  • The case itself provides some fantastic theater, and not just because father and son can’t stop themselves from making multiple petty objections, needling each other and infuriating the judge (Danny Burstein).
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The infuriating city of Los Angeles is deploying yet another idiotic policy that will raise the cost of electricity, while advertising that residents may beg the same government for a merciful intervention to lower their bills.
    — Susan Shelley, Daily News, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of infuriating
Adjective
  • That means lagless, stutter-free gameplay that all but eliminates annoying screen tearing.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Only Brady, Carer, Lewis, and Thien An, an unlikely coalition, vote for Eric, with the rest deciding that Brady, whose strength carried them through the tribe challenges, was just too volatile and annoying to take any further in the game.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of annoying
Verb
  • The decision to pursue short-term Band-Aid measures for a weak labor market and foreign trade tensions is confusing at first pass.
    — Oliver Melton, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Trump and his officials also offered confusing messages as to why Starshield — which Ukraine uses for drone strikes and air defense — had been throttled.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of confusing
Verb
  • Data center demand began driving up electric bills last year across a 13-state electricity grid stretching from Illinois to New Jersey and Maryland, angering ratepayers.
    — Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Indeed, the survey showed that use of the horn is the most common action when drivers consider another driver to be annoying or angering them.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of angering
Adjective
  • But the current debate begins, like so many irritating conversations, with the 2016 election.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The process is used to transform raw, localized ingredients — such as rice, but also honey and soybeans — into more potent but non-irritating formulas that target cellular turnover and provide deep hydration by penetrating the skin more effectively.
    — Kati Chitrakorn, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritating
Verb
  • As is the case in its sister hotel Villa la Coste, a dizzying array of frequently changing contemporary artworks are displayed to distracting effect throughout.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • His clothes and equipment, while full of detail, also aren’t festooned with distracting elements.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of distracting

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Cite this Entry

“Maddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maddening. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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