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

Companies have turned efforts to sign up — and maddening cancellations — into a booming business, one supercharged by the pandemic, when millions of customers shifted their shopping online. — Lindsay Owens, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026 For the visitors, the productivity was a maddening mirror image. — Los Angeles Times, 27 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

Adjective

Hogging pool loungers, blasting music, and blocking elevators are among the most frustrating cruise ship etiquette violations.

— Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2026
Is love in all its frustrating insufficiency enough to save us?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of frustrating

Verb

For example, in the 20th century there was a flawed world leader who held rigid ideologies, racial biases, and disturbing personal behaviors.

— Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
Her go-to is the Diolsty Vibrating Alarm Wristband, which vibrates discreetly to alert you without disturbing the people around you.

— Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Verb

The podcaster Candace Owens drove those theories, infuriating her former employer, Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
With its gridlocked terminals, infuriating delays and long lines for everything from security checks to coffee, LAX might be where patience goes to die.

— Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 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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“Maddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maddening. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of maddening

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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