noun
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the feeling of being annoyed
-
the act of annoying
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a person or thing that annoys
Usage
What does annoyance mean? An annoyance is someone or something that annoys—bothers or irritates.Annoyance can also refer to the feeling of being annoyed, the act of annoying, or an instance in which someone or something is annoying.The word implies that the resulting irritation does not rise to the level of serious harm or a major problem—even if someone or something annoys you very much.An annoyance usually consists of some kind of irritating and unwanted behavior (especially when it’s repeated), such as someone chewing too loudly or asking you the same question over and over again. Things that are annoyances are often those that distract, interrupt, or intrude on what you’re trying to do, like a noise that keeps waking you up when you’re trying to fall asleep or a pop-up ad.The word is sometimes used to contrast with something considered a serious problem, as in It’s no big deal—just a minor annoyance. Someone who is bothered in this way can be described as annoyed. Someone or something that annoys you can be described as annoying.Example: I know all this paperwork is an annoyance, but just try to get through it as quickly as you can.
Etymology
Origin of annoyance
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French; annoy + -ance
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"We don't have any stocks?" asked motorbike taxi driver Moise Ilunga, not hiding his annoyance.
From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026
Many people's annoyance at having to accept cookies when they visit a new website is an illustration of what is sometimes called the "privacy paradox".
From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026
Chelsea plucked head coach Liam Rosenior away as well, much to the annoyance of Strasbourg.
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026
He simply buys a vacuum that comes with a two-week warranty and, to his annoyance, also includes a ghost that wakes him up in the middle of the night.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026
He turned a sharp left and cantered around the perimeter of the field, snorting with annoyance at the trees blocking his path.
From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
