maddening

adjective

mad·​den·​ing ˈmad-niŋ 

ˈma-dᵊn-iŋ

1

: tending to craze

2

a

: tending to infuriate

b

: tending to vex : irritating

maddeningly

ˈmad-niŋ-lē 

ˈma-dᵊn-iŋ-

adverb

Synonyms

• abrasive
• aggravating
• annoying
• bothersome
• carking
• chafing
• disturbing
• exasperating
• frustrating
• galling
• irksome
• irritating
• nettlesome
• nettling
• peeving
• pesky
• pestiferous
• pestilent
• pestilential
• pesty
• plaguey
• plaguy
• rankling
• rebarbative
• riling
• vexatious
• vexing

Examples of maddening in a Sentence

He has a maddening habit of interrupting other people.

She shows a maddening inability to control her children.

Recent Examples on the Web

Heart Eyes is strong enough that the shortcomings that keep it in the realm of the passable instead of the actually good are maddening. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025

Thousands of victims of the costliest wildfires in Los Angeles’ history could soon face the same maddening process and meager coverage. —Gretchen Morgenson, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2025

But with climate change forcing Southern California into a maddening cycle of deluge and drought, people are beginning to question the wisdom of building, or rebuilding, communities that edge up to the more wilder areas of L.A.’s varied topography. —Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025

By turns maddening and heartening, the film reaches a high point when a young trans person visits Zephyr and can’t hold back a tear. —Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1743, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

maddening

adjective

mad·​den·​ing

ˈmad-niŋ,

-ᵊn-iŋ

: that irritates or angers

a maddening habit

maddeningly adverb