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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of maddening
Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026
Gates has assembled a stimulating, illuminating, maddening, saddening, but often inspiring, story of their relations with the world and one another.
—Robert Lloyd, Houston Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026
His biggest gripe was the Blue Jackets’ maddening habit of blowing third-period leads.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maddening
Adjective
The maddening thing for fans (especially in the age of social media) is watching that blueprint unfold one transaction at a time.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026
Gates has assembled a stimulating, illuminating, maddening, saddening, but often inspiring, story of their relations with the world and one another.
—Robert Lloyd, Houston Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
Instead, inconsistency, maddening inconsistency at times, the type of inconsistency that has produced losses to East-worst Indiana and West-worst Sacramento.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026
His biggest gripe was the Blue Jackets’ maddening habit of blowing third-period leads.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maddening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maddening
Adjective
-
Flagg finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but the Raptors’ eighth-best defense in the NBA sent multiple bodies at him throughout the game and presented an uncomfortable and frustrating playing experience for his first NBA game in Toronto.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Caroline’s anguish and her ineffectuality at making progress in finding Gabriel make for some frustrating moments as a reader.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 12 villas come with a living room, a separate bedroom, and kitchen stocked with complimentary snacks and drinks from the mini bar, a pre-dinner amuse bouche from the chef each evening, and a patio with a separate entrance for staffers to set up morning breakfast without disturbing you.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
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Set in the 1990s, the film centers on a young FBI agent (Maika Monroe) who investigates a series of disturbing murders connected by highly specific commonalities.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of infuriating customers at drive-thrus, the company is looking to exasperate its existing employees with the tech instead.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
26 Feb. 2026
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For women in perimenopause and menopause, when hormones feel unpredictable and symptoms can be frustrating (er, infuriating) and vague, having a tool that makes at least one piece of the internal puzzle visible can be empowering.—
Rita Templeton,
Flow Space,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That annoying voice in the back of the mind or deep in your gut starts to sound more convincing.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
2 Mar. 2026
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Of all the horror franchises out there, the Scream series is the one that feels most like being on the world’s most annoying hamster wheel.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the notice sent last spring was so vague and confusing that few people used it to object.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
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The company’s messaging has been confusing and has at various points seemed to contradict its own previous statements, as well as information from the government.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Iran’s decision to retaliate across the Middle East has amounted to a strategic mistake, isolating Tehran and angering neighbors, according to three high-ranking Arab diplomats with direct knowledge of the state of play and public statements from around the region.—
Andrea Mitchell,
NBC news,
4 Mar. 2026
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Less precise bombs could mean more civilian casualties, complicating the war and angering even Iranians who wanted a regime change.—
Chris Tye,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Rather than focusing on clarity with harsh actives, a key component to the glass skin trend is using gentle, non-irritating ingredients that take your skin to a healthier state.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
InStyle,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Caustic soda crystals cannot be ingested; baking soda is edible and non-irritating.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With a smooth leather fabric lining, a vachetta leather strap, and the brand’s signature denim logo print, its pattern makes a statement without distracting from your outfit.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
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Balances were a recurrent problem in the Prokofiev, and, with big and often distracting gestures, Kavakos didn’t always keep up with the soloist, the DSO’s excellent concertmaster, Alexander Kerr.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maddening. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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