maddening

[ mad-n-ing ]

adjective

1. driving to madness or frenzy:

   a maddening thirst.

2. infuriating or exasperating:

   his maddening indifference to my pleas.

3. raging; furious:

   a maddening wind.

ˈmaddening

/ ˈmædənɪŋ /

adjective

1. serving to send mad
2. extremely annoying; exasperating

Derived Forms

• ˈmaddeningly, adverb
• ˈmaddeningness, noun

Other Words From

• madden·ing·ly adverb
• madden·ing·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of maddening¹

First recorded in 1735–45; madden + -ing ²

Example Sentences

It was especially maddening, not only because OB Elementary is her neighborhood school, but because she had already managed to successfully enroll her child at OB Elementary’s PrimeTime after-school program.

From Voice of San Diego

It was also nonetheless maddening because, well, it isn’t entirely false, and thus cannot be dismissed.

From Time

“The maddening aspect of this story is that — despite the big fuss being made right now — the facts on both sides are still incredibly thin,” he said in an email.

From Washington Post

Life may be brutal, but Lawson proves that even a maddening battle with an insurance company can be fertile ground for comedy.

From Washington Post

He may make a few too many maddening decisions, but no one has ever accused the nomadic signal caller of being boring.

From Washington Post

Still, as always, the list has its fair share of maddening snubs, too.

From The Daily Beast

The reason for his crippling indecision is simple as it is maddening, especially if you happen to be married to him.

From The Daily Beast

The process was a maddening tangle of unreliable tracking, delays, and confusion, the family member said.

From The Daily Beast

However maddening this may be, we should beware of going the other way and making everything too plain.

From The Daily Beast

Blockbuster, which will soon shutter completely, was perhaps the most maddening retail chain ever.

From The Daily Beast

To see a part of my scheme, from which I had hoped so much, go wrong before my eyes is maddening!

From Project Gutenberg

They pay the penalty in that late—sometimes not so late—intolerable maddening ennui.

From Project Gutenberg

The dull thud of a footfall in the cell above hammers on my head with maddening regularity.

From Project Gutenberg

And in spite of your liberal thorns and maddening incomprehensibilities, you can always put homesickness to flight.

From Project Gutenberg

Later on Henri was to find that lack of self and sex consciousness one of the maddening mysteries about Sara Lee.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aggravating
• annoying
• exasperating
• frustrating
• infuriating
• troubling