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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ˈmaddening 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

Example Sentences

She landed so close she drenched me with water but in her mad run she’d left the bank blind, wanting only to get in the water and away from the maddening flies.

From Literature

Simulation rooms were soundproofed to an almost maddening degree, and now that I was alone, I could hear my own heartbeat like someone was holding a microphone to my chest.

From Literature

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

From BBC

Making matters more maddening, replacement units appear to be in short supply.

From The Wall Street Journal

He argues that healthcare remains maddeningly stuck at Step 2, as practitioners struggle to connect siloed information.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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