Annoy | Definition of annoy by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of ANNOY

transitive verb

1

: to disturb or irritate especially by repeated acts

2

: to harass especially by quick brief attacks

intransitive verb

: to cause annoyance

— an·noy·er noun

See annoy defined for English-language learners

See annoy defined for kids

Origin of ANNOY

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

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to ANNOY

Synonyms: aggravate, irritate, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, eat, exasperate, frost, gall, get, grate, gripe, hack (off), irk, itch, nark [British], nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, vex

Synonym Discussion of 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

Rhymes with ANNOY

ahoy, alloy, bad boy, ball boy, batboy, B-boy, beachboy, bellboy, bell buoy, best boy, big boy, bok choy, borzoi, boy toy, busboy, callboy, carboy, charpoy, choirboy, convoy, cowboy, decoy, deploy, destroy, doughboy, employ, enjoy, envoy, flyboy, footboy, Hanoi, hautbois, highboy, homeboy, houseboy, killjoy, Khoikhoi, life buoy, linkboy, lowboy, McCoy, newsboy, old boy, page boy, playboy, plowboy, po'boy, postboy, potboy, Quemoy, Rob Roy, Saint Croix, Savoy, schoolboy, sepoy, stock boy, tallboy, tatsoi, teapoy, Tolstoy, tomboy, travois, viceroy

Definition of ANNOY for Kids

: to cause to feel slightly angry or irritated

Synonym Discussion of 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.>

Learn More About ANNOY

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "annoy"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "annoy"

Nglish: Translation of "annoy" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "annoy" for Arabic speakers

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