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

Having your passport, credit card, or ID stolen on a trip abroad isn’t just an annoying headache. —Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2024

And a change in the alert mode from audible alerts, that drivers often considered annoying, to greater use of haptic alerts, like seat or steering wheel vibrations instead, is also thought to account for some of the growing acceptance and higher activation rates for systems. —Tanya Mohn, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024

There’s also no cord storage, which is annoying but not a deal-breaker. —Lizzy Briskin, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024

For most healthy people, RSV feels like a cold—annoying, but nothing super serious. —Ashley Abramson, SELF, 2 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