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annoy

verb
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an·​noy | \ ə-ˈnȯi How to pronounce annoy (audio) \
annoyed; annoying; annoys

Definition of annoy

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
Other Words from annoy Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about annoy

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Other Words from annoy

annoyer noun

Choose the Right Synonym for annoy

annoy, vex, irk, bother mean to upset a person's composure. annoy implies a wearing on the nerves by persistent petty unpleasantness. their constant complaining annoys us vex implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety. vexed by her son's failure to clean his room irk stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit. careless waste irks the boss bother suggests interference with comfort or peace of mind. don't bother me while I'm reading

synonyms see in addition worry

Examples of annoy in a Sentence

deliberately annoyed the elderly neighbor by walking across his lawn
Recent Examples on the Web The one feature that’s going to annoy the neighbors is Boombox mode. — Roberto Baldwin, Car and Driver, "Tesla Holiday Update Has Farting Horn, Revised Screen Layout," 27 Dec. 2020 So to get around that some companies sell the lists to other marketing companies, which go ahead and use the information to sell -- and annoy us. — Dave Lieber, Dallas News, "After 27 million driver’s license records are stolen, Texans get angry with the seller: Government," 26 Nov. 2020 Does Adam buy Anthony that silly white raincoat just to annoy him? — Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, "Review: A heavy dose of blarney fuels the Irish-set romantic comedy ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’," 9 Dec. 2020 But some of these companies then re-sell to companies who do use it to sell and annoy us. — Dave Lieber, Dallas News, "After 27 million driver’s license records are stolen, Texans get angry with the seller: Government," 26 Nov. 2020 They yap and annoy you and run around in circles endlessly. — Joe Genzel, Outdoor Life, "Buy a Hunting Dog that Suits You (and No One Else)," 24 Nov. 2020 And until the final debate, Trump didn’t recognize the need to turn down his own volume long enough to give Biden a chance to annoy people. — D.j. Tice, Star Tribune, "As always, Biden goes where the wind blows," 26 Oct. 2020 But while many species seem to simply annoy bats with their clicks—or use the noises as a way to make sure bats recognize them and remember how bad their ilk taste—Bertholdia trigona manages to neutralize the sounds of a bat’s echolocation. — Popsci Staff, Popular Science, "Carrots were once a crucial tool in anti-Nazi propaganda," 6 May 2020 My husband of three years has a few habits that annoy and frustrate me. — Washington Post, "Miss Manners: I didn’t get a stimulus check, but don’t want to say why," 17 Oct. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'annoy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of annoy

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for annoy

Middle English anoien, from Anglo-French anuier, ennoier, from Late Latin inodiare to make loathsome, from Latin in + odium hatred — more at odium

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Time Traveler for annoy

Time Traveler

The first known use of annoy was in the 13th century

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Statistics for annoy

Last Updated

15 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Annoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annoy. Accessed 26 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for annoy

annoy

verb
How to pronounce annoy (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of annoy

: to cause (someone) to feel slightly angry

See the full definition for annoy in the English Language Learners Dictionary

annoy

verb
an·​noy | \ ə-ˈnȯi How to pronounce annoy (audio) \
annoyed; annoying

Kids Definition of annoy

: to cause to feel slightly angry or irritated

Choose the Right Synonym for annoy

annoy, pester, and tease mean to disturb and upset a person. annoy is used for bothering someone to the point of anger. I am annoyed by your bad behavior. pester is used for bothering someone over and over. Stop pestering me for more money. tease often is used for continually tormenting someone until that person is provoked or upset. They teased the child to the point of tears.

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More from Merriam-Webster on annoy

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for annoy

Nglish: Translation of annoy for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of annoy for Arabic Speakers

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