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

His underground escape capabilities are exhausting, and his underground chomp ult to take you either miles away from the fight or directly into the rest of his team is deeply annoying. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

Yet again the Fellow Aiden (8/10, WIRED Recommends) handles the annoying stuff for you, while doing things its own way. —Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024

There’s almost nothing more annoying than when your jewelry gets tangled up into an impenetrable knot, but that headache can be avoided by investing in the Bagsmart Jewelry Travel Organizer, one of our favorites, that’s now on sale for $14. —Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2024

Plus, how to feel better fast if your symptoms are really annoying. —Korin Miller, SELF, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see annoy

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

annoying

adjective

an·​noy·​ing ə-ˈnȯi-iŋ 

: causing annoyance

an annoying habit

annoyingly adverb