MADDENING Synonyms: 125 Similar and Opposite Words

maddening 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmad-niŋ

Definition of maddening

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

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

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

The way the Padres screw around this time of year is maddening. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2026 Belc is a thoroughly charming narrator of everything from finding meaning in the work of Deb Perelman and Ina Garten to parenting as a trans man to the maddening and joyful mundanity of running a household. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026

Verb

The way the Padres screw around this time of year is maddening. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2026 The realization that there is a punishment for women who align themselves with men, as well as for those who don’t, is rightfully maddening. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for maddening

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maddening

Adjective

There’s nothing more frustrating than booking a trip to paradise only to have your holiday consumed with bad weather.

— Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
In a matter of seconds, the Current’s home victory over the NWSL’s top team turned into a frustrating draw.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

Definition of frustrating

Verb

Plus, Bluetooth headphone pairing lets students watch TV late at night without disturbing roommates.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 22 July 2026
Just like us, most plants suffer from heat stress that is exacerbated by disturbing their vascular system during a heat wave.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 17 July 2026

Definition of disturbing

Verb

Speaking to them on the phone is infuriating since most of the conversation is about what’s going on with Kaden.

— Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 17 July 2026
The result can be a more consistent connection, fewer interruptions and less of that infuriating mid-episode quality drop.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of infuriating

Adjective

The Moon shifts our mood toward fairness and cooperation, making compromise less annoying than usual.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
After all, if my brothers could be annoying, affectionate, and self-aggrandizing all at once, why couldn’t a man in the history books?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026

Definition of annoying

Verb

Indeed, the movie opens with Ed quizzing an older Greek man he’s befriended on the Belgian designer Ann Demeulemeester, before berating him for confusing his Bottega Veneta loafers for Sebago.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Disenfranchising or, at best, confusing their voters risks their own electoral success, too.

— SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, The Conversation, 17 July 2026

Definition of confusing

Verb

Leaders of the Maine Democratic Party are still working toward a process to replace Graham Platner, without angering his supporters.

— Dan Merica, Washington Post, 9 July 2026
The mayor floated the idea to place Williams on probation for six months, angering the city manager’s supporters in the crowd.

— Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026

Definition of angering

Adjective

December 22 – January 19 A small adjustment could make your whole day less irritating.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
The irritating and inflammatory nature of the smog caused hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to become short of breath or to develop symptoms from underlying heart disease.

— Rebecca Florsheim, STAT, 17 July 2026

Definition of irritating

Verb

Freeland resembles Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, drawing back the curtain that hides the smoke machine when the Wizard of Oz is not a wizard at all, but a carnival illusionist distracting the population.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 22 July 2026
Depicting that dress faithfully would likely be distracting to a modern audience and leave the film unmarketable.

— Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of distracting

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“Maddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maddening. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of maddening

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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