annoying

[uh-noi-ing] /əˈnɔɪ ɪŋ/
adjective
1.
causing annoyance; irritatingly bothersome:
annoying delays.
Origin
1325-75; Middle English; see annoy, -ing2
Related forms
annoyingly, adverb
annoyingness, noun
half-annoying, adjective
half-annoyingly, adverb
unannoying, adjective
unannoyingly, adverb

annoy

[uh-noi] /əˈnɔɪ/
verb (used with object)
1.
to disturb or bother (a person) in a way that displeases, troubles, or slightly irritates.
2.
to molest; harm.
verb (used without object)
3.
to be bothersome or troublesome.
noun
4.
Archaic. an annoyance.
Origin
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
annoyer, noun
half-annoyed, adjective
unannoyed, adjective
Can be confused
aggravate, annoy, intensify, irritate, worsen (see synonym study at aggravate)
Synonyms
1. harass, pester. See bother, worry.
Antonyms
1. comfort, calm, soothe.
Examples from the web for annoying
  • Most archeologists either don't care about tourism or they find it mildly annoying at best.
  • Most experienced web surfers will tell you that the most annoying aspects of life on the internet are pop-up ads and spam.
  • Nothing is more annoying than a tardy friend.
  • Although forgetting can be annoying, it sometimes helps us learn.
  • Yes, spam e-mail is getting even more annoying.
  • Children's music can be very annoying to adults, but since we love our kids we put up with it.
  • They have an annoying mini-infomercial trying to sell those things.
  • And at this time of year, many of us talk about annoying coughs about as often as we talk about the weather.
  • When you expect to see one thing but actually see another, it is annoying.
  • Even though she was sick, and going through annoying chemo, she never gave in.
British Dictionary definitions for annoying

annoy

/əˈnɔɪ/
verb
1.
to irritate or displease
2.
to harass with repeated attacks
Derived Forms
annoyer, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Old French anoier, from Late Latin inodiāre to make hateful, from Latin in odiō (esse) (to be) hated, from odium hatred

annoying

/əˈnɔɪɪŋ/
adjective
1.
causing irritation or displeasure
Derived Forms
annoyingly, adverb
Word Origin and History for annoying

annoy

v.

late 13c., from Anglo-French anuier, Old French enoiier, anuier "to weary, vex, anger; be troublesome or irksome to," from Late Latin inodiare "make loathsome," from Latin (esse) in odio "(it is to me) hateful," ablative of odium "hatred" (see odium). Earliest form of the word in English was as a noun, c.1200, "feeling of irritation, displeasure, distaste." Related: Annoyed; annoying; annoyingly. Middle English also had annoyful and annoyous (both late 14c.).