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
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
The uncertainty is maddening, which somehow feels appropriate in these highly uncertain times.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
Which is to say, Ben Johnson repeatedly went for it on fourth down, which often failed in maddening fashion but worked just often enough.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maddening
Adjective
One of the most maddening parts of March Madness is predicting where the upsets will happen.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026
The uncertainty is maddening, which somehow feels appropriate in these highly uncertain times.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
This resulted in an ensemble of complex, often maddening characters.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026
Which is to say, Ben Johnson repeatedly went for it on fourth down, which often failed in maddening fashion but worked just often enough.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maddening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maddening
Adjective
-
Instead of posing questions about geography or world affairs, the test asked him to tackle hypothetical situations, from the frustrating to the dangerous.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Travelers said the long lines have been frustrating and are looking forward to TSA officers getting paid again.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of barging past, the Great Dane carefully adjusts his body, pressing himself to the side of the stairs in an effort to avoid disturbing the cat.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Police said there were reports of reckless driving throughout the parking lot, a fire, underage drinking, and disturbing others at the shopping district.—
Robert A. Cronkleton
March 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Granular, often infuriating descriptions like that one are ultimately what make Hail Mary sing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Each individual increase feels tolerable – annoying, maybe, but not catastrophic.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The consequences of all this information range from mildly annoying to very serious.—
Larry Magid,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This device is a high-tech centrifuge that simulates microgravity by spinning vials with samples around two axes, effectively confusing the cells inside as to their position in space.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2026
-
During the Second World War, the Allies put a special effort into confusing the Axis powers.—
David Szondy
March 25,
New Atlas,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This causes a rift within the family, particularly angering the eldest son, Erik, who feels deeply betrayed.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The administration also decided to allow the up to 80,000 metric tons of low-tariff, lower-quality beef from Argentina to be imported to help keep grocery prices down, angering cattle ranchers who argue the decision will hurt domestic production and sales.—
Jennifer Jacobs,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In both Dream Scenario and The Drama, Borgli sides with the maligned, framing those who cast judgment as shrewish and needling (exemplified in The Drama with a deliciously irritating performance from Alana Haim).—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Here's where things get a bit irritating.—
Justin Pot,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Not all Mauss’s material lends equally well to visualizations, and there are moments in the special when the animations are more distracting than additive.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
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The combination with the neutral dark-blue jean skirt keeps the look still feeling grown-up and not too distracting.—
Jana Ackermann,
Glamour,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maddening. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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