annoy
verb (transitive)
UK/əˈnɔɪ/US/əˈnɔɪ/
To make someone feel slightly angry or irritated; to bother or disturb someone.
Example Sentences
The constant noise from the construction site began to annoy the nearby residents.
She was annoyed by his habit of interrupting her during conversations.
Tickling can sometimes annoy people who are sensitive to it.
His repetitive questions started to annoy the teacher after a while.
The long wait at the airport annoyed the travelers who were eager to reach their destinations.
He tried to annoy his brother by hiding his favorite toys.
The flashing lights of the neon signs annoyed passersby who preferred a more subdued environment.
She found his constant complaining to be highly annoying and decided to address it directly.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
To bother or irritate someone, arousing mild anger or frustration.“Annoy” is used when someone or something causes persistent irritation or discomfort. A noise that won’t stop, a repetitive action, or a rude habit might all qualify. For example, you might say, “The constant buzzing from the neighbor’s lawnmower really annoys me,” highlighting that the prolonged sound triggers your irritation. In personal relationships, repeated teasing or inconsiderate behavior can annoy another person, eventually escalating tensions if not addressed.When you use “annoy,” it often implies a smaller-scale, ongoing frustration rather than an overwhelming anger. Sometimes, these frustrations build over time—like a series of minor offenses (interrupting your conversation, borrowing items without returning them, or leaving dirty dishes unwashed). In spoken language, people might say, “Don’t annoy me!” half-jokingly to convey that someone’s approaching their limit of patience. In a more formal context, you could say, “Persistent spam emails annoy our clients,” referencing a collective sentiment of irritation. If you’re adding intensifiers, you might say, “It greatly annoys me when deadlines are ignored,” which underscores the significance of the frustration. While “annoy” doesn’t usually suggest explosive anger, it can become a stepping stone to deeper aggravation if the irritating behavior remains unchecked. Keeping your usage context-appropriate is crucial. In polite company or academic writing, you might replace “annoy” with terms like “irritate,” “bother,” or “disturb.” In casual conversation, though, “annoy” effectively communicates mild exasperation or a push toward your patience limit. Ultimately, deploying “annoy” helps pinpoint that moderate level of dissatisfaction, letting listeners or readers know a nuisance is at play—even if it’s not yet a full-blown crisis of anger.
Alternatives
Depending on the level of irritation or the tone you wish to convey, you could use “bother” or “bug” in casual conversation to indicate mild annoyance. “Irritate” or “vex” can imply a more formal or slightly stronger sense of frustration. If you want to stress a relentless quality, “pester” or “nag” may be appropriate, conveying repeated actions that wear on someone’s patience. For more lighthearted contexts, “bug” can feel playful: “You’re really bugging me!” In contrast, “exasperate” or “infuriate” suggest a higher degree of frustration—potentially crossing from annoyance into anger. If the problem is deeply ingrained, words like “aggravate” or “provoke” can highlight that the irritation sparks or intensifies negative feelings. Choosing among these synonyms allows you to precisely match the situation’s emotional intensity and formality. “Irritate” might fit a polite email to a coworker about repeated mistakes, while “infuriate” belongs in a personal rant about a serious grievance. By tailoring your vocabulary, you capture the full range of annoyance—from mild discontent to strong resentment.
Writing
When writing about annoyance, context and precision are key. You might be composing a personal narrative describing how small grievances accumulate throughout your day—like missing keys, slow internet, and endless spam calls. By deliberately using “annoy” or its synonyms, you reflect the level of frustration intensifying with each new aggravation. If you’re creating fictional characters, portraying how they express annoyance can reveal personality traits and dynamics in relationships. One character might be quietly annoyed, clenching their jaw, or performing passive-aggressive actions; another might openly snap at others with cutting words. These behaviors show readers how minor irritations, if unresolved, can disrupt personal or professional settings. In more formal or technical texts, “annoy” can address customer-service scenarios or user-experience issues. For instance, “Pop-up ads continue to annoy users, often decreasing site engagement.” Here, you identify a clear cause (pop-up ads) and effect (user annoyance leading to reduced engagement). Such statements can inform improvements, like rethinking web design or reevaluating marketing strategies. Overall, weaving “annoy” into your writing helps pinpoint a moderate sense of irritation. Its straightforward connotation avoids the heavier emotional charge of “anger” or “outrage,” maintaining a clear difference between mild frustration and heated rage. By pairing “annoy” with context—behavior, setting, or emotional reactions—you sharpen the narrative, making it relatable and coherent for your audience.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, “annoy” is a go-to term for expressing mild frustration—like when you’re dealing with traffic jams, slow service at a restaurant, or a friend repeatedly checking their phone when you’re talking. It easily conveys that something is getting under your skin without sounding overly dramatic. “He annoys me when he chews loudly,” for example, signals an aggravation that’s not necessarily deal-breaking but definitely noticeable. You can soften your tone with humor. A friend might say, “Don’t annoy me—I’m running on two hours of sleep!” often producing a chuckle, even as they set a boundary. Joking around with phrases like “Stop being annoying!” can show mild disapproval without letting tensions escalate, especially among close friends or family. When you feel your annoyance growing, calling it out early may help maintain a casual, constructive vibe. For instance, “It annoys me when you interrupt—can we each take turns talking?” addresses the issue politely. Being direct but calm ensures small irritations don’t balloon into conflicts. Overall, “annoy” helps you navigate everyday grievances by naming that mild negativity in a way that usually prompts apologies, adjustments, or a playful resolution. Whether it’s that coworker who hums constantly, the housemate leaving dishes in the sink, or the incessant buzz of a phone notification, “annoy” suits smaller scale annoyances—strong enough to note, yet typically repairable with some mutual awareness. By using “annoy” openly and civilly, you create space for small course corrections before frustration grows unmanageable.
Etymology
“Annoy” stems from Old French “anoier,” which itself traces back to the Latin phrase “inodiare,” meaning “to make hateful.” Over centuries, its sense shifted from prompting hatred to sparking irritation or vexation. During the Middle English period, spellings ranged from “annoye” to “anoi,” reflecting fluid orthographic standards. The root concept—producing displeasure or aggravation—remained consistent, evolving in everyday speech. In medieval times, “annoy” might have been used to describe anything from the petty nuisances of daily village life (like livestock wandering into gardens) to the friction between feudal lords and tenants. As the English language standardized, “annoy” became firmly associated with minor but bothersome provocations. Today, “annoy” is deeply ingrained in casual and formal usage alike, denoting that slight to moderate level of exasperation or frustration. Its long history highlights humanity’s universal experience of getting irritated by small (and sometimes big) inconveniences. The word’s continuity underlines the timeless, relatable nature of everyday annoyances—whether it’s a 14th-century tale of noisy neighbors or a modern complaint about spam calls.
