maddening 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmad-niŋ How to pronounce maddening (audio)
Definition of maddeningnext
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
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
Adjective
Companies have turned efforts to sign up — and maddening cancellations — into a booming business, one supercharged by the pandemic, when millions of customers shifted their shopping online. — Lindsay Owens, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026 For the visitors, the productivity was a maddening mirror image. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
Verb
Anthony Richardson possessed almost extraterrestrial talent but maddening inconsistency. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 Prices remain high and the roads maddening, but few Mediterranean islands offer so many convincing ways to reach sunrise. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maddening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maddening
  1. frustrating
  2. disturbing
  3. infuriating
  4. annoying
  5. confusing
  6. angering
  7. irritating
  8. distracting
Adjective
  • Hogging pool loungers, blasting music, and blocking elevators are among the most frustrating cruise ship etiquette violations.
    — Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Is love in all its frustrating insufficiency enough to save us?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of frustrating
Verb
  • For example, in the 20th century there was a flawed world leader who held rigid ideologies, racial biases, and disturbing personal behaviors.
    — Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Her go-to is the Diolsty Vibrating Alarm Wristband, which vibrates discreetly to alert you without disturbing the people around you.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Verb
  • The podcaster Candace Owens drove those theories, infuriating her former employer, Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • With its gridlocked terminals, infuriating delays and long lines for everything from security checks to coffee, LAX might be where patience goes to die.
    — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of infuriating
Adjective
  • After five years in development at Retro Studios, the original makers of the Metroid Prime series, fans were greeted with annoying side characters, a bike for Samus to roam the barren landscape on, and a deeply unsatisfying ending.
    — Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • The truth, and its handling, hangs over the show, which must be annoying for those involved, and simultaneously is why many people bought tickets.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoying
Verb
  • The Justice Department has argued in its suit that the name overlap risks confusing voters.
    — Willem Marx, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Cyan could theoretically fill the visual gap without confusing road users.
    — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of confusing
Verb
  • Data center demand began driving up electric bills last year across a 13-state electricity grid stretching from Illinois to New Jersey and Maryland, angering ratepayers.
    — Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Indeed, the survey showed that use of the horn is the most common action when drivers consider another driver to be annoying or angering them.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of angering
Adjective
  • But the current debate begins, like so many irritating conversations, with the 2016 election.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The process is used to transform raw, localized ingredients — such as rice, but also honey and soybeans — into more potent but non-irritating formulas that target cellular turnover and provide deep hydration by penetrating the skin more effectively.
    — Kati Chitrakorn, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritating
Verb
  • As is the case in its sister hotel Villa la Coste, a dizzying array of frequently changing contemporary artworks are displayed to distracting effect throughout.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • His clothes and equipment, while full of detail, also aren’t festooned with distracting elements.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of distracting

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Cite this Entry

“Maddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maddening. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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