annoyed

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Slightly angry because something has bothered you or gone wrong.

   Grammar: Follows be, feel or look and often takes with, at or about: annoyed with him.

   Patterns

   • annoyed with someone
   • annoyed at something
   • annoyed that something happened

   I was annoyed with myself for forgetting the tickets.

   She looked annoyed when the phone rang again.

   He felt annoyed that nobody had told him.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Showing mild irritation in the way someone speaks or acts.

   Grammar: Describes a look, tone or reply: an annoyed sigh.

   Patterns

   • an annoyed tone
   • an annoyed look

   She gave an annoyed sigh and closed the laptop.

   His annoyed reply surprised everyone.

   The teacher threw an annoyed glance at the back row.

Word forms

Common combinations

annoyed with someone

I'm annoyed with my brother for borrowing my charger.

annoyed at something

She was annoyed at the delay.

mildly annoyed

He seemed mildly annoyed by the noise.

visibly annoyed

The manager was visibly annoyed.

get annoyed

Don't get annoyed; it was an accident.

Synonyms and how they differ

irritated

Irritated suggests being bothered by something repeated, and is a close, slightly more formal match.

angry

Angry is stronger and suits more serious problems than annoyed.

vexed

Vexed is more literary and suggests being puzzled as well as bothered.

cross

Cross is a British word for mildly angry, especially with someone.

Opposites

Word family

annoy verb

to make someone slightly angry

annoyance noun

the feeling, or a thing that causes it

annoying adjective

causing irritation

annoyingly adverb

in an irritating way

Commonly confused: annoyed or annoying?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “annoyed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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