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

This is a maddening way to end a season that has taken great pains to explain what is going on to its detriment! —James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024

Because the debate between the U.S. Senate candidates in Arizona, Democrat Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake, should be contentious and maybe entertaining and probably maddening. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 7 Oct. 2024

Computers, at least for now, cannot quite capture the crushing surreality and maddening absurdity of modern electoral politics. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2024

The Buzz perpetuates a maddening control that debuted on the VW ID 4: a driver’s-door gizmo that uses three buttons to control the four power windows. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 21 Oct. 2024

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