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

All those annoying texts and calls should stop after today. —Carl Weiser, The Enquirer, 5 Nov. 2024

This is expected on hybrids, battery-electric vehicles and plug-ins as the brakes first must work through the regenerative motion, but this can become annoying with a traditional setup. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

To some, however, the unsolicited messages are not just annoying, but somewhat alarming because, in some cases, the senders — strangers — seem to know an awful lot of what seems like personal information. —Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024

Whether all this is annoying or charming depends on your point of view. —Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 29 Oct. 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