madden

verb

mad·​den ˈma-dᵊn How to pronounce madden (audio)
maddened; maddening ˈmad-niŋ How to pronounce madden (audio)
ˈma-dᵊn-iŋ
Synonyms of maddennext

intransitive verb

: to become or act as if mad

transitive verb

1
: to disturb or drive mad
2
: to make intensely angry : enrage

Synonyms of madden

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Examples of madden in a Sentence

the endless swarms of mosquitoes all but maddened the explorers her perpetual tardiness maddened her friends to no end
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Anthony Richardson possessed almost extraterrestrial talent but maddening inconsistency. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 Prices remain high and the roads maddening, but few Mediterranean islands offer so many convincing ways to reach sunrise. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026 Though Larwood was bowling to a conventional field at the time, Jardine immediately switched to a bodyline field, further maddening the audience. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026 The Tigers have still been haunted by bouts of bad luck and maddening failures to close out games. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for madden

Word History

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of madden was in 1704

Rhymes for madden

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Browse Nearby Words

mad dash
madden
maddening
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Cite this Entry

“Madden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/madden. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

madden

verb
mad·​den ˈmad-ᵊn How to pronounce madden (audio)
: to make mad : enrage
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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