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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
deliberately annoyed the elderly neighbor by walking across his lawn
Recent Examples on the Web That sort of public display of shape-shifting powers must annoy the aliens who have been infiltrating the planet for so long. 
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
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
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
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
annoy
verb
an·noy ə-ˈnȯi
annoyed; annoying
: to cause to feel slightly angry or irritated
annoys
verb
as in irritates
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts deliberately annoyed the elderly neighbor by walking across his lawn Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- irritates
- bothers
- bugs
- persecutes
- aggravates
- gets
- irks
- infuriates
- exasperates
- angers
- riles
- eats
- vexes
- grates
- peeves
- worries
- itches
- chafes
- piques
- plagues
- gripes
- provokes
- teases
- spites
- ruffles
- gets to
- insults
- wears on
- narks
- frosts
- offends
- enrages
- galls
- nettles
- harasses
- puts out
- upsets
- nags
- rasps
- burns (up)
- rubs the wrong way
- gets on one's nerves
- gets one's goat
- sticks in one's craw
- hacks (off)
- sets one's teeth on edge
- unsettles
- antagonizes
- heckles
- agitates
- hassles
- pesters
- inflames
- rouses
- harries
- outrages
- rankles
- distresses
- badgers
- perturbs
- maddens
- disquiets
- devils
- baits
- enflames
- unhinges
- discomforts
- roils
- undoes
- incenses
- affronts
- exercises
- bullyrags
- ballyrags
- frets
- miffs
- hagrides
- discomposes
- freaks (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- obliges
- pleases
- appeases
- delights
- placates
- pacifies
- satisfies
- gratifies
- mollifies
- gladdens
- reassures
- assures
- soothes
- cheers
- propitiates
- conciliates
- contents
- quiets
- comforts
- consoles
- solaces