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nuisance

noun

ˈnü-sᵊn(t)s How to pronounce nuisance (audio)
Definition of nuisancenext
1
as in annoyance
one who is obnoxiously annoying the new neighbor is threatening to become a nuisance, dropping in on us several times a day

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation folding up this map correctly is such a nuisance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 nuisance In August, the health board designated a $250,000 fund for rat abatement — so far the only public money specifically earmarked to combat the nuisance in the state. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2026 The number of bears killed by motor vehicle strikes, euthanized as nuisances because of conflicts with humans or poached in the Central Florida region over the past decade total about 1,900. — Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 Separately, New Mexico secured a nearly $1 billion verdict against Meta for creating a public nuisance and exposing minors to harm, prompting Meta to settle with 47 other states for up to $18 billion, though private claims persist. — Schuyler Moore, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The agency has issued the company 38 violation notices for public nuisance. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nuisance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nuisance
  1. annoyance
  2. headache
  3. pest
  4. thorn
  5. tease
  6. irritant
  7. bother
  8. frustration
Noun
  • People are exhausted by subscriptions, signing up for apps, logins, passwords, and other first-world annoyances that are now common in the search to watch a game on TV.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ninety-two percent of customers expect quick responses, and the number one customer service annoyance is long wait times.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of annoyance
Noun
  • In another incident that gave Europe a headache, officials suggested Russia was behind a drone that breached Lithuania’s airspace earlier this month.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Typical symptoms are a high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle, bone or joint pain, nausea and vomiting, swollen glands, and skin rash.
    — Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of headache
Noun
  • This could include repairs, mold, pests, elevators, lead, trash and public safety.
    — Aziza Shuler, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The fly population explosion is due to warm, humid weather and westerly winds that have pushed the pests out of the marshes, experts say.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of pest
Noun
  • Oil, which in recent weeks has been a thorn in the stock market's side, provided the first source of relief Monday.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Miami dominated the series against Nashville since Messi’s arrival in 2023, but Nashville has been a thorn in Miami’s side this season.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of thorn
Noun
  • Aside from stray showers, most of Tuesday teases with sunny skies and drier air.
    — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Much like a handful of Packers losses last season, this one began with a tease.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • Their wavelike motion helps move around germs, mucus, dust, and other irritants so the body can dispel them via coughing or sneezing.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The outcomes are shrouded in mystery, a particular irritant for leadership teams obsessed with data and clarity.
    — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of irritant
Noun
  • Saving Parini the bother of canceling the interview, Borges gamely offers to join him on a road trip to Orkney.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2026
  • My number was a bother to my friends because of the two zeros.
    — Murr Brewster, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • The frustration within the Democratic caucus immediately prompted some calls for harsh consequences.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The AfD was created in 2013 as a small anti-euro party before morphing into an anti-migrant force that tapped into voter frustration over immigration and the strains many Germans perceive on housing, jobs and public services.
    — Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of frustration

Browse Nearby Words

nuggets
nuisance
nuisances
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nuisance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nuisance. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nuisance

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nuisance

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