definitions

annoying

[ uh-noi-ing ]
/ əˈnɔɪ ɪŋ /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR annoying ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

causing annoyance; irritatingly bothersome: annoying delays.

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RELATED WORDS

disturbing, troublesome, irritating, bothersome, aggravating, vexatious

Nearby words

announcement, announcer, annoy, annoyance, annoyed, annoying, annual, annual general meeting, annual parallax, annual percentage rate, annual report

Origin of annoying

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at annoy, -ing2

Related forms

Definition for annoying (2 of 2)

annoy

[ uh-noi ]
/ əˈnɔɪ /

verb (used with object)

to disturb or bother (a person) in a way that displeases, troubles, or slightly irritates.
to molest; harm.

verb (used without object)

to be bothersome or troublesome.

noun

Archaic. an annoyance.

Origin of annoy

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English an(n)oien, enoien < Anglo-French, Old French anoier, anuier to molest, harm, tire < Late Latin inodiāre to cause aversion, from Latin phrase mihi in odiō est … I dislike …; cf. in-2, odium, ennui, noisome; (noun) Middle English a(n)noi, ennoi < Anglo-French, Old French a(n)nui, etc., derivative of the v.

Related forms

an·noy·er, nounhalf-an·noyed, adjectiveun·an·noyed, adjective

Can be confused

aggravate annoy irritate

Synonym study

1. See bother, worry.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for annoying

British Dictionary definitions for annoying (1 of 2)

annoying

/ (əˈnɔɪɪŋ) /

adjective

causing irritation or displeasure

Derived Forms

annoyingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for annoying (2 of 2)

annoy

/ (əˈnɔɪ) /

verb

to irritate or displease
to harass with repeated attacks

Derived Forms

annoyer, noun

Word Origin for annoy

C13: from Old French anoier, from Late Latin inodiāre to make hateful, from Latin in odiō (esse) (to be) hated, from odium hatred
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012