Meaning

Something "maddening" is extremely frustrating, the kind of thing that makes you want to scream. It comes from "mad", and in American English "mad" usually means angry, so a maddening situation is one that keeps making you angry. It has nothing to do with mental illness.

It's strongest about things you can't control or fix: a website that logs you out every five minutes, a delay with no explanation, someone who keeps interrupting. "It's maddening" and "the maddening thing is..." are the most common patterns. You'll also meet the verb in the passive: "I was maddened by the delays," though that sounds more written.

The word is neutral in register, a little more educated-sounding than "It drives me crazy," which means the same thing. It works in a complaint to a friend, a meeting ("The approval process is maddening"), or a review. Use it about situations and systems rather than about someone you're talking to; "You're maddening" is heavy and personal.

In a conversation

Li NaGeorge
  1. Li Na
  2. George
  3. Li Na
  4. George
  5. Li Na

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Check yourself

1"The delays are maddening." How does the speaker feel?
2Which sentence means almost the same as "It's maddening"?

Practice · 3 min

Listen, then repeat. Stress the first syllable, "MAD", and let the rest fall away quickly.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.