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

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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

The same applied to the maddening visual tests—find the traffic lights, the crosswalks, the bicycles, and teach computers to see better. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Her fitful vocals capture the chaos of love, the maddening ability of a partner to absolutely wreck a mind or heal it. — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 7 Aug. 2026

Verb

Sure, the mandatory hydration breaks added for all games (including those in domed stadiums with air conditioning) and a first-ever halftime show in the final were maddening for the soccer purists. — Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 20 July 2026 The sound is not just big and bold, but scrubbed clean by AI with the goal of maddening perfection. — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for maddening

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maddening

Adjective

For general appreciators, the series’ excesses and redundancies are likely to be frustrating, as are its frequent lack of focus and general sense of over-sanitization.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
Indeed, Infiniti’s wide-eyed portrait of a prodigy is equal parts inspired and frustrating.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of frustrating

Verb

Challenges and solutions A major challenge for the researchers working with a quantum system is to get the signal out of the system without disturbing its fragile state.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
Food companies are trying to find ways to make products healthier or more affordable by changing ingredients without disturbing familiar textures.

— Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Verb

That makes Union Town more cumulatively powerful at minute 106 than at any single point, no matter how sad or harrowing or infuriating the stories and experiences are.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
But maybe that low point and the unexpected departure of Stokes and the return of Joe Root as Test captain ahead of the white-ball skipper has proved a turning point for one of the most gifted but infuriating batters of his generation.

— Paul Newman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of infuriating

Adjective

Ready to go to South America and see some capybaras annoying tweens?

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
In May, Cloobeck was arrested 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.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of annoying

Verb

The board’s real contribution is to prevent the organization from confusing speed with progress, automation with accountability or intelligence with wisdom.

— David Ribott, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Here, misfits are welcome, and bric-a-brac is part of the appeal; the wonderfully bizarre name and devil-may-care attitude have been confusing (and delighting) first-timers for more than 70 years.

— Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of confusing

Verb

Rebecca regrets angering Matthijs (Matteo van der Grijn) after putting his daughter in the middle of a heated discussion around the possibility of Matthijs moving to London.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
Two go-their-own-way Democrats bucked the party on a routine procedural vote, angering colleagues and raising a red flag about potential party divisions to come.

— Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of angering

Adjective

Both can get the job done, but chemical exfoliants may be too irritating for those with sensitive skin or excessively dry scalps.

— Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2026
Despite its splashy unveiling, Project Zenith is more about making the OS less irritating for developers than adding any groundbreaking capabilities.

— Chris Hoffman, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of irritating

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maddened

maddening

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“Maddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maddening. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of maddening

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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