annoy
verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
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
Example Sentences
Chris Smith, BGR, 5 Sep. 2022 However, bright lights annoy and scare giant squids away. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 3 Aug. 2022 Just two people who love each other, but really annoy each other. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 20 July 2022 And blasting Top 40 radio via a boombox while walking down the street might annoy fellow commuters, but at least everyone was experiencing that annoyance together. Sarah Todd, Quartz, 1 July 2022 In other words, moral rebels can annoy the rest of us into joining them. Michelle Nijhuis, The Atlantic, 22 June 2022 The simple technology that fully opens or closes a car window with one touch of a button can annoy, just like that mosquito that won’t quit buzzing in your ear. Fortune, 1 Jan. 2022 Did any of these issues annoy or enrage you as well? Erik Kain, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2021 The free world’s four enemies aren’t doing these things merely to annoy or disrupt us. Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 30 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English anoien, from Anglo-French anuier, ennoier, from Late Latin inodiare to make loathsome, from Latin in + odium hatred — more at odium
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
annoy
verb
annoy
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- irritate
- bother
- persecute
- bug
- aggravate
- get
- infuriate
- irk
- exasperate
- rile
- vex
- eat
- spite
- worry
- anger
- grate
- tease
- provoke
- itch
- plague
- get to
- peeve
- insult
- pique
- chafe
- ruffle
- nark
- gripe
- wear on
- frost
- harass
- put out
- gall
- offend
- enrage
- nag
- upset
- nettle
- rasp
- rub the wrong way
- get on one's nerves
- burn (up)
- stick in one's craw
- rouse
- heckle
- get one's goat
- antagonize
- set one's teeth on edge
- hack (off)
- hassle
- pester
- unsettle
- inflame
- badger
- agitate
- harry
- devil
- rankle
- outrage
- distress
- perturb
- discomfort
- bait
- affront
- enflame
- disquiet
- roil
- madden
- exercise
- incense
- unhinge
- miff
- bullyrag
- undo
- fret
- ballyrag
- discompose
- hagride
- freak (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- appease
- placate
- pacify
- oblige
- please
- satisfy
- conciliate
- delight
- mollify
- gratify
- reassure
- assure
- propitiate
- soothe
- cheer
- comfort
- gladden
- content
- quiet
- console
- solace
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of annoy are harass, harry, pester, plague, tease, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.
The synonyms harass and annoy are sometimes interchangeable, but harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.
The words harry and annoy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.
While in some cases nearly identical to annoy, pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.
While the synonyms plague and annoy are close in meaning, plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.
Although the words tease and annoy have much in common, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.
The meanings of worry and annoy largely overlap; however, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.