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

Parva, meanwhile, bundles its continuous monitoring platform with lab coordination and the maddening work of finding the right specialist. — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Sugar’s purpose in this earthly life — to reunite lost families in the City of Angels — is crumbling under the maddening impossibility of convicting a policeman of a crime in a world where the crime is the point. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 24 July 2026

Verb

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 maddening

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maddening

Adjective

Summary Many professionals discover their most impactful career lessons often come from demanding, even frustrating, bosses.

— Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Senate Bill 29 directly confronted the most frustrating aspect of Election Day, ballot questions.

— Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of frustrating

Verb

Sulfur-rich gases reaching the upper atmosphere could reflect sunlight and temporarily cool the climate, disturbing rainfall and reducing harvests worldwide.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Some people think putting more and more effects is the best way to express ourselves for the audience, and some filmmakers just want to keep the balance without disturbing the original movie.

— Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Verb

Despite his rakish lifestyle, Don Juan falls in love with innocent Adriana, infuriating the envious Lucrezia Borgia (Estelle Taylor), who plots to ruin the young lovers’ nascent romance.

— Air Mail, Air Mail, 8 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of infuriating

Adjective

Edward Hoke is an ingratiating, appropriately annoying and attractive Blaze.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
Cloobeck, 64, was arrested in May and charged with three counts of attempting to dissuade a witness from testifying and one count of harassment for making annoying phone calls, according to a criminal complaint.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of annoying

Verb

But there is the risk that his strategy will backfire by confusing investors.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Jobs are down, but consumer sentiment—and the stock market—are up, leaving the retail sector to reckon with a host of seeming contradictions and confusing market signals.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of confusing

Verb

Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich faces a fight for political survival in elections in October after angering his fellow West Bank settlers by voting not to punish ultra-Orthodox Jews who refuse to serve in the military.

— Reuters, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026
And the thousandth cut came when Raman launched her mayoral campaign without first consulting the local DSA chapter, angering organizers who felt the race stretched their resources too thin.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 29 July 2026

Definition of angering

Verb

Practicing meditation, visualization, or deep breathing may help in distracting from the discomfort of a full bladder for a short time.

— Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026
At least 10 million people use the Opal app, whose premium tier costs $100 annually, to lock themselves out of distracting apps, while others pay $59 for the Brick to do the same.

— Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of distracting

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“Maddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maddening. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of maddening

adjective

verb

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