annoy
66 synonyms and 3 antonyms for annoy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To bother or irritate someone, especially through repeated small actions.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
aggravate
nettle
rankle
ruffle
antagonize
disgruntle
botherate
grate
burn up
bedevil
cheese off
exasperate
frustrate
get up
grotch
hack off
irk
irritate
mommick
nark
pee off
peeve
persecute
pique
rile
rile up
roil
test someone's patience
tick off
try one's patience
vex
Idioms:
wind up
chap someone's hide
get on someone's nerves
get on someone's tits
get on someone's wick
get someone's back up
get someone's dander up
get someone's goat
get someone's Irish up
get someone's nanny
get someone's nanny-goat
get under one's goat
get under someone's skin
grind one's gears
harsh one's mellow
put someone's back up
raise someone's hackles
rub someone the wrong way
rub up the wrong way
ruffle someone's feathers
tee off
torque off
Antonyms
How to use annoy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
annoy someone
annoying habit
easily annoyed
Etymology
From Old French anoier ("to bother, disturb"), from Late Latin inodiare ("to make loathsome"), rooted in Latin odium, "hatred."
Full origin of annoy →Frequently asked questions
What does “annoy” mean?
The word “annoy” means to bother or irritate someone, especially through repeated small actions. In plain terms, to irritate or bother someone, usually through small, repeated things rather than one big offense.
How do you pronounce “annoy”?
“Annoy” is pronounced uh-NOIH (/əˈnoɪ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “annoy” in a sentence?
Here is “annoy” used in a sentence: “The dripping tap annoyed him all night.”
What is another word for “annoy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “annoy” include aggravate, nettle, rankle, ruffle, sting and antagonize.
What is the opposite of “annoy”?
The opposite of “annoy” — its antonyms — are comfort, please and soothe.
What part of speech is “annoy”?
“Annoy” is a verb.
Where does the word “annoy” come from?
The word “annoy” comes from Late Latin. From Old French anoier ("to bother, disturb"), from Late Latin inodiare ("to make loathsome"), rooted in Latin odium, "hatred.".
Is “annoy” a common word?
“Annoy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
