madden
C1Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To make someone extremely annoyed or angry.
To irritate or provoke to the point of frenzy or irrationality; to exasperate.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a slow, cumulative effect of annoyance leading to anger. More intense than simply 'annoy' or 'irritate'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/literary in both varieties compared to 'drive mad', 'infuriate'.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in both; slightly higher in written contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NP __ NP (transitive: The noise maddens me.)It __ NP that-clause (It maddens me that they are always late.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Enough to madden a saint.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in HR contexts: 'Micromanaging tends to madden creative employees.'
Academic
Used in literary/psychological analysis: 'The protagonist is maddened by his obsessive thoughts.'
Everyday
Common: 'It maddens me when people don't reply to messages.'
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The endless queuing at the post office truly maddens me.
- His pedantic corrections would madden a more patient colleague.
American English
- It maddens me when drivers don't use their turn signals.
- The software's constant updates madden the IT staff.
adverb
British English
- Not standard. Use 'maddeningly'. He was madden slow.
American English
- Not standard. Use 'maddeningly'. The process is madden complex.
adjective
British English
- Not used as a standalone adjective; use 'maddening'. He faced madden delays.
American English
- Not used as a standalone adjective; use 'maddening'. She has a madden habit of interrupting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Loud noises madden my dog.
- Waiting a long time can madden people.
- It maddens my father when we are late for dinner.
- The slow internet connection maddens everyone in the office.
- His refusal to admit a mistake, even when presented with proof, is what truly maddens his team.
- The bureaucratic red tape maddens applicants seeking visas.
- The politician's hypocritical statements served only to madden an already disillusioned electorate.
- She was maddened by the relentless and trivial criticisms levelled at her work.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MAD + DEN → Imagine an angry (MAD) person being trapped in a DEN, which makes them even more furious.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER IS A FORCE that fills a container (the person); the verb describes the process of filling.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'сводить с ума' in all contexts, as it's too strong for mild irritation. For 'It maddens me', consider 'Это меня бесит/раздражает' depending on intensity.
Common Mistakes
- Using it intransitively (*'He maddens easily.'). Correct: 'He is easily maddened.' or 'He gets maddened easily.'
- Confusing with adjective 'maddening' (The noise is maddening).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'madden' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is moderately common, especially in writing. In everyday speech, people often use 'drive crazy', 'infuriate', or 'really annoy' instead.
'Madden' focuses on the process of *causing* the extreme annoyance/anger, often through persistent irritation. 'Anger' can describe the state itself. Something 'maddens' you, making you 'angry'.
Yes, though it describes strong irritation, it can be used hyperbolically. E.g., 'His terrible puns madden me' (said with a smile). The adjective 'maddening' is more common in this use.
The related noun is 'maddening' (used as a gerund/verbal noun: 'the maddening of the public') but it is very rare. More common is the adjective 'maddening' (a maddening delay) or the noun 'exasperation'.