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Some common synonyms of annoy<\/em> are harass<\/em><\/a>, harry<\/em><\/a>, pester<\/em><\/a>, plague<\/em><\/a>, tease<\/em><\/a>, and worry<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"to disturb or irritate by persistent acts,\" annoy<\/em> implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.<\/p>

\/\/ you're doing that just to annoy<\/em> me<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When could 'harass' be used to replace 'annoy'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms harass<\/em><\/a> and annoy<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but harass<\/em> implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.<\/p>

\/\/ harassed<\/em> on all sides by creditors<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where would 'harry' be a reasonable alternative to 'annoy'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words harry<\/em><\/a> and annoy<\/em> are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, harry<\/em> may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.<\/p>

\/\/ the strikers had been harried<\/em> by thugs<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'pester' be a better fit than 'annoy'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to annoy<\/em>, pester<\/em><\/a> stresses the repetition of petty attacks.<\/p>

\/\/ constantly pestered<\/em> with trivial complaints<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'plague' take the place of 'annoy'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms plague<\/em><\/a> and annoy<\/em> are close in meaning, plague<\/em> implies a painful and persistent affliction.<\/p>

\/\/ plagued<\/em> all her life by poverty<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is 'tease' a more appropriate choice than 'annoy'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words tease<\/em><\/a> and annoy<\/em> have much in common, tease<\/em> suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.<\/p>

\/\/ children teased<\/em> the dog<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'worry' be used instead of 'annoy'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The meanings of worry<\/em><\/a> and annoy<\/em> largely overlap; however, worry<\/em> implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.<\/p>

\/\/ pursued a policy of worrying<\/em> the enemy<\/p>" } } ] }

annoy

verb

É™-ˈnȯi How to pronounce annoy (audio)
Definition of annoynext
as in to irritate
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts deliberately annoyed the elderly neighbor by walking across his lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb annoy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of annoy are harass, harry, pester, plague, tease, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When could harass be used to replace annoy?

The synonyms harass and annoy are sometimes interchangeable, but harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

Where would harry be a reasonable alternative to annoy?

The words harry and annoy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

When might pester be a better fit than annoy?

While in some cases nearly identical to annoy, pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

In what contexts can plague take the place of annoy?

While the synonyms plague and annoy are close in meaning, plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

When is tease a more appropriate choice than annoy?

Although the words tease and annoy have much in common, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

When can worry be used instead of annoy?

The meanings of worry and annoy largely overlap; however, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of annoy What is the pettiest thing that annoys you during a race weekend? —Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026 Still, Clarkson was annoyed about not receiving her reality TV prizes after learning that American Idol season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken and his mother were gifted cars from production. —Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026 The bartender is annoyed and goes for a smoke. —E.r. Pulgar, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026 The White House could also insist that while Tkachuk was annoyed, he wasn’t harmed in a way the law ought to remedy. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for annoy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for annoy
  1. irritate
  2. bother
  3. bug
  4. persecute
  5. aggravate
Verb
  • While it’s powered by retinol, an ingredient known to be irritating, this treats my under-eye with care.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2026
  • All these questions started to irritate him.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • But a few days before Sonya disappeared, something was bothering her, her mother said.
    — Claire Osborn, Austin American Statesman, 21 Mar. 2026
  • The sidewalk was bustling, but no one even bothered to rubberneck.
    — Amanda Peet, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of bother
Verb
  • So, all the things people were yelling about with Southwest weren’t bugging me.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
  • But so much of my journalism has been about something that’s bugging me.
    — Jack Denton, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of bug
Verb
  • An immigration judge has previously found that she would be persecuted by the Israeli government if she was removed there.
    — Kristie Keleshian, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Some had been granted the opportunity to stay after proving to immigration judges that they would probably be persecuted if returned to their homeland.
    — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of persecute
Verb
  • One person said the shooting aggravated a neurological condition.
    — Christopher Spata, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
  • The move aggravated the country's existing energy crises and triggered widespread fuel shortages.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of aggravate

Browse Nearby Words

announcing (to)
annoy
annoyance
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Annoy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/annoy. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on annoy

Nglish: Translation of annoy for Spanish Speakers

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