annoying

American  

[uh-noi-ing] / əˈnɔɪ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing annoyance; irritatingly bothersome.

   annoying delays.

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annoying British  

/ əˈnɔɪɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing irritation or displeasure

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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

• annoyingly
  adverb
• annoyingness
  noun
• half-annoying
  adjective
• half-annoyingly
  adverb
• unannoying
  adjective
• unannoyingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of annoying

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; annoy + -ing ²

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.”

Example Sentences

In Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America,” Roy M. Cohn, trying to assuage an angry client he can’t get off the phone, offers theater tickets to a show he knows that this annoying rube will like.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Most of the time, they happily forwarded me, an annoying patient, on to the person in charge.

From Slate • Apr. 25, 2026

Film TikToker Cerys Hawkes has posted about "how to avoid annoying cinema-goers".

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Narcissistic behavior is annoying to those witnessing it, but it doesn’t seem great shakes for the people themselves.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026

So she knew the annoying little brats were going to go digging for Dog Breath’s booty that very night.

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• aggravating
• bothersome
• disturbing
• irritating
• troublesome