maddening

adjective

mad·​den·​ing ˈmad-niŋ How to pronounce maddening (audio)
ˈma-dᵊn-iŋ
1
: tending to craze
2
a
: tending to infuriate
b
: tending to vex : irritating
maddeningly
ˈmad-niŋ-lē How to pronounce maddening (audio)
ˈma-dᵊn-iŋ-
adverb

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 Listen to this article The Nets‘ inconsistency can be maddening. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2024 March seems to get more maddening every year for those trying to put together a winning men's NCAA Tournament bracket. Jim Sergent, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 The maddening political developments in the United States and in other countries ruled by right-wing populists are in fact the symptoms of a crumbling system. Ece Temelkuran, Foreign Affairs, 22 July 2020 The whole sport, in fact, can be isolating, a maddening solitary activity where the rewards are too often fleeting and the failures overwhelming. Rick Maese, Washington Post, 12 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for maddening 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'maddening.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1743, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of maddening was circa 1743

Dictionary Entries Near maddening

Cite this Entry

“Maddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maddening. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

maddening

adjective
mad·​den·​ing
ˈmad-niŋ,
-ᵊn-iŋ
: that irritates or angers
a maddening habit
maddeningly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on maddening

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