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Annoyance: meaning, definitions and examples

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annoyance

 

[ əˈnɔɪəns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

feeling of irritation

Annoyance is the feeling or state of being irritated or bothered by someone or something. It is a mild form of anger, often caused by repeated actions or situations that are frustrating or bothersome.

Synonyms

aggravation, bother, irritation, vexation.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
annoyance

Annoyance is again being used to describe a situation where something is irksome or troubling to a minor degree.

  • The buzzing fly was a constant annoyance during dinner
  • She tried to ignore the annoyance caused by her little brother's antics
irritation

Irritation is used when something causes discomfort, annoyance, or slight anger, often noticeable but not extremely severe.

  • His constant tapping was a source of irritation
  • The itchy sweater caused him continuous irritation
aggravation

Aggravation implies a higher level of frustration or intensification of an already existing issue, often making a bad situation worse.

  • His missed flights added to the aggravation of his long journey
  • Running out of gas was just another aggravation on an already bad day
bother

Bother is often used in informal situations to describe a minor inconvenience or disturbance that may not cause serious frustration.

  • Can you close the window? The draft is a bother
  • It's no bother at all to lend you my book
vexation

Vexation indicates a state of being worried, annoyed, or frustrated, and is often considered more formal or literary.

  • She spoke of her vexation over the unfair treatment at work
  • The delay of the project was a great vexation to the team

Examples of usage

  • The constant noise from the construction site next door is causing me great annoyance.
  • Her persistent questions were starting to become a source of annoyance for him.
Context #2 | Noun

cause of frustration

Annoyance can also refer to the thing or person that is causing irritation or frustration. It is something that provokes a feeling of annoyance in others.

Synonyms

aggravation, bother, irritant, nuisance.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
annoyance

Similar to 'annoyance,' it describes a feeling of slight anger or irritation.

  • His loud chewing is a real annoyance to everyone around him
irritant

Use for something that causes persistent or continuous irritation. This often has a more literal, sometimes medical connotation.

  • Dust is a common irritant that can trigger allergies
nuisance

Use to describe something or someone that is annoying or causes problems over a period of time, often used in a more casual or slightly negative way.

  • The neighbor's barking dog is a constant nuisance
aggravation

Use to describe a situation or feeling that has become worse or more serious.

  • The delayed flight only added to his aggravation
bother

Use when something causes minor inconvenience or makes someone feel troubled.

  • Sorry to bother you, but do you have a minute?

Examples of usage

  • The slow internet connection is a major annoyance for the employees in the office.
  • His habit of tapping his pen on the desk became an annoyance for everyone in the room.

Translations

Translations of the word "annoyance" in other languages:

🇵🇹 irritação

🇮🇳 परेशानी

🇩🇪 Ärger

🇮🇩 gangguan

🇺🇦 дратівливість

🇵🇱 irytacja

🇯🇵 苛立ち

🇫🇷 agacement

🇪🇸 molestia

🇹🇷 rahatsızlık

🇰🇷 짜증

🇸🇦 إزعاج

🇨🇿 nepříjemnost

🇸🇰 nepríjemnosť

🇨🇳 烦恼

🇸🇮 nadloga

🇮🇸 pirringur

🇰🇿 мазасыздық

🇬🇪 შეწუხება

🇦🇿 narahatlıq

🇲🇽 molestia

Etymology

The word 'annoyance' originated in the late 14th century from the Old French word 'anoiance', meaning 'trouble, harm, injury'. It later evolved to the Middle English 'annoi', with the sense of 'distress, irritation'. Over time, the word came to represent the feeling of being bothered or irritated by someone or something.

See also: annoy, annoyed, annoyedly, annoyer, annoying, annoyingly.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,447, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.