annoy

verb

an·​noy ə-ˈnȯi 

annoyed; annoying; annoys

transitive verb

1

: to disturb or irritate especially by repeated acts

annoyed the neighbors with their loud arguments

2

: to harass especially by quick brief attacks

intransitive verb

: to cause annoyance

annoyer noun

Synonyms

• aggravate
• bother
• bug
• burn (up)
• chafe
• eat
• exasperate
• frost
• gall
• get
• grate
• gripe
• hack (off)
• irk
• irritate
• itch
• nark [British]
• nettle
• peeve
• persecute
• pique
• put out
• rasp
• rile
• ruffle
• spite
• vex

Choose the Right Synonym for annoy

annoy, vex, irk, bother mean to upset a person's composure.

annoy implies a wearing on the nerves by persistent petty unpleasantness.

their constant complaining annoys us

vex implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety.

vexed by her son's failure to clean his room

irk stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit.

careless waste irks the boss

bother suggests interference with comfort or peace of mind.

don't bother me while I'm reading

synonyms see in addition worry

Examples of annoy in a Sentence

deliberately annoyed the elderly neighbor by walking across his lawn

Recent Examples on the Web

The Dad got annoyed at first but seemed to give up fighting over it with all the kids respectfully persuading him to accept having a driver. —Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Cooney immediately began to annoy other castaways with his brash personality and attempts to stir the pot about fellow players, and was unsuccessful in winning in the team challenge and individual immunity. —Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024

Emma tells Daisy that Diana was annoyed, and Daisy does some damage control with Diana but thinks both stews need a thicker skin. —Emma Soren, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2024

Tucked away into a chest pocket of a small, lightweight pack like the Salomon Advanced Skin 5 ($145), your phone is with you and at the ready, but not annoying you. —Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English anoien, from Anglo-French anuier, ennoier, from Late Latin inodiare to make loathsome, from Latin in + odium hatred — more at odium

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

annoy

verb

an·​noy ə-ˈnȯi 

: to disturb or irritate especially by repeated acts : vex

annoyer noun