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Meaning & use

annoys

verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/əˈnɔɪz/
US/əˈnɔɪz/

“annoys” is a form of “annoy”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive

    Makes someone feel slightly angry or impatient by doing something unwelcome or repeated.

    Grammar: Takes an object: it annoys me. Used with he, she or it.

    Patterns

    • something annoys someone
    • it annoys someone that something happens

    It annoys me when people talk during a film.

    Her habit of tapping her pen annoys everyone in the office.

    He always annoys his sister by borrowing her phone.

  2. verbtransitive

    Disturbs or irritates something, such as skin or an animal, causing discomfort.

    Grammar: Takes an object: the wool annoys my skin.

    Patterns

    • something annoys something

    The scratchy tag annoys his neck.

    Strong perfume annoys her eyes.

    Loud noise annoys the cat when she is sleeping.

Word forms

third person singularannoys
past tenseannoyed
past participleannoyed
-ing formannoying

Common combinations

really annoys me
Slow internet really annoys me.
deeply annoys
Being interrupted deeply annoys him.
constantly annoys
The noise constantly annoys the neighbors.
what annoys me
What annoys me is the lack of a clear answer.

Synonyms and how they differ

irritates
Irritates is a close match but can also describe physical soreness, like irritating skin.
bothers
Bothers is milder and gentler than annoys, often used in questions like does it bother you.
irks
Irks is more formal and slightly literary compared with the everyday annoys.
infuriates
Infuriates is much stronger and means makes someone very angry.

Opposites

pleasessoothes

Word family

annoyance noun
the feeling of being annoyed, or something that annoys
annoyed adjective
slightly angry or irritated
annoying adjective
causing irritation
annoyingly adverb
in a way that causes irritation

Commonly confused: annoys or annoyes?

annoys vs annoyes

Annoyes is a misspelling; the correct third-person form is annoys.

Practice

My brother never cleans up, and it really ___ me.

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