annoying

adjective

an·​noy·​ing ə-ˈnȯi-iŋ 

: causing vexation or irritation : causing annoyance : irritating

an annoying habit

annoying questions

annoyingly

ə-ˈnȯi-iŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• abrasive
• aggravating
• bothersome
• carking
• chafing
• disturbing
• exasperating
• frustrating
• galling
• irksome
• irritating
• maddening
• nettlesome
• nettling
• peeving
• pesky
• pestiferous
• pestilent
• pestilential
• pesty
• plaguey
• plaguy
• rankling
• rebarbative
• riling
• vexatious
• vexing

Examples of annoying in a Sentence

my partner has the annoying habit of eating all the pickles and leaving a jar full of pickle juice in the refrigerator

Recent Examples on the Web

But unexpected allies and converts to the team’s cause appear, too: passengers awaiting a flight to Kabul, an American technology reporter, maybe even that annoying bakery owner. —Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025

The second week My usual redness around my cheeks had started to fade, and the annoying pimple that had been brewing on my cheek seemed to back off without its usual dramatic entrance. —Larry Stansbury, Essence, 7 Mar. 2025

Nothing has changed in 18 years except there are more and more buildings encased in the annoying scaffolding. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025

Many of these get trapped by my email spam filter, but others arrive via annoying texts and calls that, at the very least, waste my time. —Larry Magid, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see annoy

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for annoying

• alloying
• deploying
• destroying
• employing
• enjoying
• cloying
• toying

Kids Definition

annoying

adjective

an·​noy·​ing ə-ˈnȯi-iŋ 

: causing annoyance

an annoying habit

annoyingly adverb