ANNOY Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'annoy' contrast with its synonyms?

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. // you're doing that just to annoy me

Q: When could 'harass' be used to replace 'annoy'?

The synonyms harass and annoy are sometimes interchangeable, but harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power. // harassed on all sides by creditors

Q: Where would 'harry' be a reasonable alternative to 'annoy'?

The words harry and annoy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment. // the strikers had been harried by thugs

Q: When might 'pester' be a better fit than 'annoy'?

While in some cases nearly identical to annoy , pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks. // constantly pestered with trivial complaints

Q: In what contexts can 'plague' take the place of 'annoy'?

While the synonyms plague and annoy are close in meaning, plague implies a painful and persistent affliction. // plagued all her life by poverty

Q: When is 'tease' a more appropriate choice than 'annoy'?

Although the words tease and annoy have much in common, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath. // children teased the dog

Q: When can 'worry' be used instead of 'annoy'?

The meanings of worry and annoy largely overlap; however, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation. // pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

annoy

verb

ə-ˈnȯi

Definition of annoy next

as in to irritate

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

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How does the verb annoy contrast with its synonyms?

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.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When could harass be used to replace annoy?

The synonyms harass and annoy are sometimes interchangeable, but harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

Where would harry be a reasonable alternative to annoy?

The words harry and annoy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

When might pester be a better fit than annoy?

While in some cases nearly identical to annoy, pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

In what contexts can plague take the place of annoy?

While the synonyms plague and annoy are close in meaning, plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

When is tease a more appropriate choice than annoy?

Although the words tease and annoy have much in common, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

When can worry be used instead of annoy?

The meanings of worry and annoy largely overlap; however, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of annoy In 2023, its Democratic members annoyed the Biden White House by recommending that Congress require the F.B.I. to get court orders before looking for Americans’ private communications swept up by a warrantless surveillance program, which the Biden administration opposed. —

Charlie Savage, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025 Off the field, more decisions were being made that annoyed the fanbase. —

Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 18 Jan. 2025 Patrice O’Neal did a wonderful job of being annoyed. —

Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025 Together the besties are annoyed by the mundanity of their jobs, from fielding ridiculous customer complaints to suffering the indignity of having their service summoned by a bell on a pop-up flag installed on the tables. —

Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for annoy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for annoy

Verb

The greasier the better, Chen says (but people with sensitive skin should avoid olive oil, which can be irritating).

— Matt Fuchs, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025
One woman on TikTok has gone viral after describing how her brother still finds ways to irritate her—even from a distance.

— Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025