maddening 1 of 2

Definition of maddeningnext

maddening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of madden

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
Last season’s collapse was as maddening as the 15-inning game was heartbreaking. Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026 The maddening reason is that gravity affects all types of matter and energy. Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
Rachel and Irvi found these reactions maddening. Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for maddening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maddening
Adjective
  • Those are frustrating questions to still have about a fifth-year player, but Sorsby could generate some first-round sizzle with a clean 2026 season.
    Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Few things in gardening can be more frustrating than discovering that your favorite plants have been damaged by animals.
    Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • There is disturbing use by 13-year-olds and those who are older in bike lanes and our once-tranquil walking and bike trails.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Mark Holdbrooks, 69, was found guilty Friday on multiple charges, including murder, theft and disturbing human remains.
    Katie Houlis, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The gap between what Greg and I did—and, more importantly, thought about—became a gigantic infuriating cavern for me.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
  • In San Francisco, a Waymo vehicle struck and killed a bodega cat in the city’s Mission District last fall, infuriating residents.
    Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Your husband’s petty desire to be right about everything is understandably annoying and somewhat typical behavior.
    Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Dealing with frost on your car may be a nuisance in the winter, but seeds, leaves, and flower petals can be equally as annoying in spring.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Welcome to Asking for a Friend, a weekly series dedicated to solving the messy, awkward, and confusing parts of modern friendship.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 22 Apr. 2026
  • But factors like confusing trailheads and limited provisions mean that going alone also comes with unique risks.
    Allison Forsyth, Health, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • At last year’s COP30 in Brazil, about 80 countries backed a road map to phase out oil, gas and coal, but it was dropped from the final document for lack of consensus, angering many delegates.
    Fabiano Maisonnave, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • The unique revelry was appropriate for the rising star who has made headlines by angering veterans with aggressive moves.
    ABC News, ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Derms say mineral blocks tend to be less irritating for sensitive skin.
    Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • The curators supply a historical backdrop, therefore, but discreetly, and without distracting us from Wright’s poetic originality.
    Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The Living Room also extends outdoors to the rooftop Terrazzo Bar with views that are almost too distracting.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Maddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maddening. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on maddening

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster