annoying
Americanadjective
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
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.
But homing in on the annoying and self-defeating aspects of it misses the real story of how the movement changed American society, and the world, for the better—and how Lindy West did too.
From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026
"I'll be a bit clumsy up there -- so I know that's going to be hilarious and annoying at the same time."
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
It was annoying more than anything since I didn’t know what they wanted from me.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026
Contaifer admitted that the way that short trailer clips were spread through different pages "might be annoying for fans", but is a "smart idea" that builds anticipation.
From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026
It’s really annoying being named after a piece of paper.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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.
