Meaning & Definition of word "Maddening"
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Maddening
/ˈmæd.ən.ɪŋ/
adjective:
- 1. Extremely annoying or frustrating.
- Example: The maddening noise from the construction site kept her from concentrating on her work.
- 2. Causing great exasperation.
- Example: His maddening habit of interrupting me made it difficult to have a conversation.
- 3. Making one feel compelled to react with anger or frustration.
- Example: The maddening delay at the airport tested everyone's patience.
- 4. Contributing to a sense of irritation or distress.
- Example: She found the maddening complexity of the puzzle to be both challenging and exhilarating.
Etymology
From the verb 'mad', meaning to make crazy, plus the suffix '-ening' indicating a process or result.
Common Phrases and Expressions
maddeningly slow:
describes something that takes an excessively long time and is frustrating.
maddening detail:
refers to overly complex information that frustrates rather than helps.
maddening repetition:
indicates a tiresome reiteration of the same point or action.
Related Words
mad:
feeling or showing strong annoyance or anger.
anger:
a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.
frustration:
the feeling of being upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something.
Slang Meanings of maddening
Meaning: driving me crazy
Example Sentence: This noise is driving me crazy; it's maddening!
Meaning: getting on my nerves
Example Sentence: Her constant questions are getting on my nerves; it's so maddening!