madden

verb

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

intransitive verb

: to become or act as if mad

transitive verb

1
: to drive mad : craze
2
: to make intensely angry : enrage

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.
All of which means that delivering the satisfying, sink-into-your-sofa consolation of such shows involves a hectic, grueling, often maddening sprint to assemble new troupes of actors week after week, with casting directors receiving hundreds, sometimes thousands of submissions for every role. Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Lou is fiercely protective of her sister, maddened by Beth’s unwavering devotion to the husband who eventually lands her in hospital with a face banged up beyond recognition. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Jan. 2024 Never Back Down has paid for only a single Facebook ad, in South Carolina, since late September and nothing on Google or YouTube since the end of October, maddening the campaign team. Nicholas Nehamas, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2023 The studios have been maddened by SAG’s lengthy presentations in the negotiating room, which felt, to some, like lectures. Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Nov. 2023 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

Dictionary Entries Near madden

Cite this Entry

“Madden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/madden. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

madden

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

More from Merriam-Webster on madden

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!