maddening

American  

[mad-n-ing] / ˈmæd n ɪŋ /

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.

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maddening British  

/ ˈmædənɪŋ /

adjective

1. serving to send mad

2. extremely annoying; exasperating

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Other Word Forms

• maddeningly adverb
• maddeningness noun

Etymology

Origin of maddening

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

Explanation

Maddening things are extremely irritating: they make you mad. Some drivers have the maddening habit of following other cars too closely on the highway. If something annoys you a lot, it's maddening. You might try to ignore the maddening tune your sister keeps whistling, or decide to leave a movie half way through because of the maddening acting style of its leading man. The adjective maddening comes from the less-common verb madden, "annoy someone," or "drive someone insane." Both words are rooted in the Old English gemædde, "out of one's mind."

Example Sentences

“It has a maddening circularity, and it’s also very hard to explain, even to the people closest to you.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

“The timing is maddening because we have such an exciting road map ahead that the team is executing on, and I hate to miss even a minute of it,” Simo wrote in her note.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

It was error-strewn and maddening at times but they kept at it.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

Gates has assembled a stimulating, illuminating, maddening, saddening, but often inspiring, story of their relations with the world and one another.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

Now whatever befell he was going to be there to witness it, with those mocking blue eyes and that maddening cool amusement.

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare

Related Words

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