maddening

[mad-n-ing]

See more synonyms for maddening on Thesaurus.com

adjective

driving to madness or frenzy: a maddening thirst.
infuriating or exasperating: his maddening indifference to my pleas.
raging; furious: a maddening wind.

Origin of maddening

First recorded in 1735–45; madden + -ing²

Related formsmad·den·ing·ly, adverbmad·den·ing·ness, noun

madden

[mad-n]

verb (used with object)

to anger or infuriate: The delays maddened her.
to make insane.

verb (used without object)

to become mad; act as if mad; rage.

Origin of madden

First recorded in 1725–35; mad + -en¹

Related formsun·mad·dened, adjective

Synonyms for madden

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1. provoke, enrage, anger, inflame; exasperate, irritate, vex, annoy.

Antonyms for madden

1. calm, mollify.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for maddening

annoying, exasperating, infuriating, aggravating, troubling, frustrating, trying, provoking, vexatious

Examples from the Web for maddening

Contemporary Examples of maddening

Still, as always, the list has its fair share of maddening snubs, too.
15 Enraging Golden Globe TV Snubs and Surprises: Amy Poehler, 'Mad Men' & More
Kevin Fallon
December 11, 2014
The reason for his crippling indecision is simple as it is maddening, especially if you happen to be married to him.
Adventure Photographer Jimmy Chin: Defying the Rational, Physically and Creatively
Oliver Jones
October 6, 2014
The process was a maddening tangle of unreliable tracking, delays, and confusion, the family member said.
American G.I.s: Dude, Where’s My Car?
Tim Mak
July 16, 2014
Blockbuster, which will soon shutter completely, was perhaps the most maddening retail chain ever.
R.I.P. Blockbuster, You Frustratingly Magical Franchise, You
Kevin Fallon
November 6, 2013
As maddening as it is that this is being dragged out to a trilogy, this trailer does look pretty cool.
Miley’s New Album Is Streaming; ‘The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug’ Gets a Trailer
Culture Team
October 1, 2013

Historical Examples of maddening

The maddening interview of this one night has filled my soul with love—but not for thee.
The Lamplighter
Charles Dickens
This maddening impatience told on my strength, which was small, and hindered me.
Green Mansions
W. H. Hudson
We passed four men, and their greeting was maddening in its jeer.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
Which would be maddening for someone with no work to do or no resources in himself, or herself.
Pariah Planet
Murray Leinster
Then the maddening cries of the prisoners whose relatives had not come.
The Scapegoat
Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for maddening

maddening

adjective

serving to send mad
extremely annoying; exasperating

Derived Formsmaddeningly, adverbmaddeningness, noun

madden

verb

to make or become mad or angry

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for maddening

adj.

1743, from present participle of madden. Related: Maddeningly.

madden

"to drive to distraction," 1822; earlier "to be mad" (1735), from mad (adj.) + -en (1). Related: Maddened; maddening. The earlier verb was simply mad (early 14c., intransitive; late 14c., transitive), from the adjective.