as in frustrating
causing annoyance
after a few days, she found the monotonous work to be absolutely maddening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
For Marshall, the episode has been harrowing and maddening.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Walden Green, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
Rachel and Irvi found these reactions maddening.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maddening
Adjective
Vince’s volatility could be both maddening and intoxicating.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
For Marshall, the episode has been harrowing and maddening.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
Across Exuvie, Büchi induces a state of temporary autophony, a condition in which internal body sounds like breathing and blinking are amplified to maddening volume.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
Rachel and Irvi found these reactions maddening.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maddening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maddening
Adjective
-
For longtime Stockton resident Montie Selmon, sideshows have become a familiar and frustrating part of life.—
Conor McGill,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
-
This was a snapshot of the 2026 Orioles — tantalizing upside, frustrating downside, and now even more pressure on an underwhelming rotation.—
Josh Tolentino,
Baltimore Sun,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
In addition, local inland wetland agencies may have stricter regulations on planting, disturbing or controlling specific invasive plants in sensitive areas within their town.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
-
Remaining quiet and respectful increases the chances of observing bears in their natural habitat without disturbing them.—
Debbie Olsen,
Travel + Leisure,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
The gap between what Greg and I did—and, more importantly, thought about—became a gigantic infuriating cavern for me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In San Francisco, a Waymo vehicle struck and killed a bodega cat in the city’s Mission District last fall, infuriating residents.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There was noticeable and annoying lag and sluggishness in the Windows desktop and Windows Explorer, not even counting Chrome or Office, with apps taking some 10 seconds to even open.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
The Hawks want to be a scrappy, tough, annoying team to play against.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Amanda Peet has had people confusing her for Lake Bell at restaurants, airports, red carpets and everywhere in between.—
Laura Lane,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
-
But online as an antidote only works if the sector stops confusing access with quality.—
Ian Gibson,
Twin Cities,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The economic cost of the war is now palpable – with cell-phone data outages that regularly blight major cities angering even the pro-Putin bourgeoisie – adding to a sense of the war beginning to hit the urban elite, who until now were mostly isolated from the invasion’s impact.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
-
Starmer’s comments risk angering many within his party, who will take issue with his linking of antisemitism with pro-Palestinian activism.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
Sulfate-free shampoos are often less irritating to sensitive scalps, too.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
Derms say mineral blocks tend to be less irritating for sensitive skin.—
Brigitt Earley,
Glamour,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The curators supply a historical backdrop, therefore, but discreetly, and without distracting us from Wright’s poetic originality.—
Julian Bell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Living Room also extends outdoors to the rooftop Terrazzo Bar with views that are almost too distracting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maddening. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
