annoy

USAGE SUMMARY

"annoy" is a word that is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this word when someone or something is causing frustration or irritation. For example: "My little brother's incessant tapping annoys me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There are few things that annoy me more than being mistakenly called English.

The Guardian - Opinion

Away from that zany pair, despite Diego Costa declaring that contrary to recent rumours he rather likes life in London and doesn't want to take a trip on Do One Airlines, Chelsea are going to make a £30m offer for long-time Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuaín, perhaps just for yucks or to annoy their North London counterparts.

The Guardian - Sport

British-Somali Amina Ali was chosen from an all-woman shortlist of three in a move which will annoy some party members who wanted to see a local candidate.

The Guardian

"It is up to him as to whether he wants to annoy 51% of the population".

The Guardian

It did not matter so much in Gladstone's time – they would sit rapt for hours, spellbound by his oratory – but now they run everywhere and annoy the older members by sending disrespectful text messages about them to Channel 4 News.

The Guardian - Opinion

Better Together bought a bespoke profiling system from Mosaic's makers Experian and – "to annoy the nationalists" – called it Patriot.

The Guardian

Taylor made it clear the app was not an attempt to displace established VOD services or annoy broadcasters.

The Guardian

Shall we just get rid of incessant polling – doesn't it just annoy the public?

The Guardian - Opinion

Perhaps they just want to annoy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Support it and Labour will annoy its union donors; oppose it and the party will risk losing even more votes in the centre ground.

The Economist

Greek-Cypriot civil servants, with their background of British law and a healthy economy behind them, are fast mastering the candidate-countries' dossiers.Moreover, the Greeks, both in Cyprus and in Athens, have recently gone out of their way not to annoy the EU or NATO.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "annoy", consider the degree of irritation you want to convey. Choose synonyms like "irritate", "bother", or "vex" to fine-tune the intensity of the feeling.

Common error

While "annoy" is acceptable in most contexts, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives such as "displease", "exasperate", or "perturb" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "annoy" is as a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object. It describes the action of causing someone to feel irritated or bothered, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "annoy" is a very common and grammatically sound verb used to describe the act of irritating or bothering someone. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct word for use in English writing. While acceptable in various contexts, consider the degree of irritation you wish to convey and choose synonyms accordingly. Be mindful of overuse in formal settings, where more sophisticated alternatives might be preferable. Predominantly found in news and media sources, "annoy" serves to communicate the impact of actions or behaviors that cause displeasure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

irritate

This term is a direct synonym, indicating a similar level of disturbance but with a slightly different tone.

bother

This word implies a lighter form of disturbance or inconvenience.

pester

This suggests repeated and persistent annoying actions.

vex

This indicates a more formal and intense level of annoyance.

irk

This suggests a minor but still noticeable level of irritation.

aggravate

This term means to make something worse, including someone's feelings of annoyance.

exasperate

This word implies a high degree of frustration and irritation.

trouble

This suggests causing someone worry or difficulty.

disturb

This implies interrupting someone's peace or activity.

ruffle feathers

This idiom suggests causing someone to become annoyed or agitated.

FAQs

How to use "annoy" in a sentence?

You can use "annoy" to describe the act of irritating or bothering someone. For instance, "His constant whistling began to annoy everyone in the office".

What can I say instead of "annoy"?

You can use alternatives like "irritate", "bother", or "vex" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "annoy" or "irritate"?

"Annoy" and "irritate" are both correct and can often be used interchangeably, but "irritate" can sometimes imply a stronger level of disturbance.

What's the difference between "annoy" and "disturb"?

"Annoy" generally refers to causing irritation or displeasure, while "disturb" means to interrupt someone's peace or activity. "Annoy" focuses on the feeling, whereas "disturb" focuses on the action.