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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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
Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Our winter season continues with Adina Hoffman (recipient of a 2013 Windham-Campbell Prize for Nonfiction) chatting with Michael Kelleher about Georges Perec’s magical and mercurial and maddening An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in Paris, translated by Marc Lowenthal.
—Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 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
But of all the strange and maddening messages posted around this city, there was one particular type of billboard that the people of San Francisco couldn’t bear.
—Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Our winter season continues with Adina Hoffman (recipient of a 2013 Windham-Campbell Prize for Nonfiction) chatting with Michael Kelleher about Georges Perec’s magical and mercurial and maddening An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in Paris, translated by Marc Lowenthal.
—Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maddening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maddening
Adjective
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What’s especially frustrating is that this debate is being driven by politicians seeking to divide us, rather than families, coaches, and the people who are actually raising kids and protecting them.—
Mike Smith,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
-
But that was not the mayor's most frustrating moment.—
Marcia Kramer,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Little green men are disturbing Kacey Musgraves’ golden hour.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The host of a popular paranormal podcast begins to be haunted by disturbing recordings sent to her anonymously.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And then there's Alden Ehrenreich, who plays the part of our infuriating, unrepentant a-hole.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Granular, often infuriating descriptions like that one are ultimately what make Hail Mary sing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Following an investigation, Nichols was also booked on suspicion of annoying or molesting a child under 18.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
While Nichols remained in custody for the break-in, he was booked on an additional count of annoying or molesting a child under 18, police said.—
Cierra Morgan
Connect
April 13,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Neptune also blurs lines, which is why its influence can feel mysterious or even confusing at times.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
That’s not all that’s confusing across the first season.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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Here's where things get a bit irritating.—
Justin Pot,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Also, consider banning visual displays by an attendee of anything other than the participant’s location – visual message displays, inappropriate background material, distracting behavior or inappropriate attire should not be permitted.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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Administrators found that without their phones, students were using school laptops for distracting activities like watching YouTube or playing games, rather than learning.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maddening. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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