- present participle of annoy.
annoying
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
What does annoying mean? Annoying is an adjective that’s used to describe someone or something that annoys you—bothers or irritates you. 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 is extremely annoying. People who are annoying are usually engaging in some kind of irritating and unwanted behavior (especially when it’s repeated), such as chewing too loudly or asking you the same question over and over again. Things that are annoying 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. Someone or something that’s annoying can be called an annoyance. The adjective annoyed is used to describe someone who is bothered in this way. Example: Mom, Jeff is being so annoying! He keeps humming!
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of annoying
Explanation
Something that's annoying is upsetting or irritating or otherwise troublesome. When your mom asks you ten times in a row when you're going to clean your room, she's being annoying. But your messy room might also be annoying! Annoying really is a tiresome word, as its roots imply: it comes from the old French word anuier, meaning "to weary or vex," and from the Latin inodiare, meaning — even worse — "to make loathsome." Think about that next time you do something annoying. And don't forget, it's easy to be annoying without even knowing it, as Mark Twain understood when he said, “There is nothing so annoying as to have two people talking when you're busy interrupting.”
Vocabulary lists containing annoying
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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.
It’s annoying to me to read a review and see where they just don’t get it — and they think they’re the smart one.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
If so, I’ll defer to what my father told me was mine: asking annoying questions.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026
They are making the alarms smarter, more useful and less annoying, while developing early-warning systems that could help clinicians intervene sooner and potentially prevent some alarms from being triggered in the first place.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
"He is a phenomenal talent, is very well liked in dressing room as well and seems to be one of those guys who is good at everything he does, which will be incredibly annoying."
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
Even though he was annoying, she still liked him, and he seemed to like her.
From Anya and the Dragon 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.
