Muiriel likes to annoy me lately.
Source: tatoeba (2431)
Annoy
/əˈnɔɪ/
Synonyms for "annoy" (338 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (68)
Verb(25 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (101)
Verb(38 words)
disgruntledisgruntlesdispleasedispleaseddispleasesdisturbsexasperateexasperatesfrustratefrustratesgalledgetget atget on someone's nervesget on someone's titsget on someone's wickget someone's back upget someone's dander upget someone's goatget someone's irish up
Adjective(4 words)
Related words (169)
incenseinciteinconvenienceincreaseinflameinfuriateintensifyirkirritatekey upkindlelather uplight the fuselight upmaddenmagnifymake acutemake worsemiffmolest
Show 64 more words
movenagneedlenettlenudzhoffendoverexcitepeevepersecuteperturbpesterpickpick onpiqueplaguepluck the beardpotherprodprovokeput outrankleraspriderileroilrouserubruffleset astirset fire toset on fireset upsharpensourspitesteam upstirstir the bloodstir the embersstir the feelingsstir upsummon uptantalizetauntteasetiretormenttroubletrytry the patienceturn ontweak the noseupsetvexwakewake upwakenwarmwarm the bloodwhip upwork intowork upworryworsen
Verb(52 words)
irkedirksirritatesjangledjazzmiffingmolestmolestsmommicknervenettledniggledpee offpeevepeevedpersecuteperturbpiquepiquedpiss off
Show 32 more words
pissesprovokeput someone's back upragraise someone's hacklesranklerankledranklingrile upriledrilesroilrub someone the wrong wayrub up the wrong wayrubbedruffleruffle someone's feathersruffledspitedspitingstingstormtee offtest someone's patiencetick offtickedtorque offtroubletry one's patiencevexesvexingwind up
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: bother, irritate, vex, devil, irk.
- Sentence evidence is available for annoy, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "annoy".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "annoy"
Keep "annoy" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "annoy" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "annoy", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "annoy" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
3 entriesMore specific
4 entriesCollocations
5 entriesannoying habitannoying noiselevel of annoyanceminor annoyancesource of annoyance
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
21 total sentences available.
Those impossible suggestions just annoy me.
Source: tatoeba (62382)
He made mistakes on purpose to annoy me.
Source: tatoeba (298134)
I didn't say a word for fear I should annoy him.
Source: tatoeba (307904)
Showing 4 of 21 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "annoy"?
Closest matches include bother, irritate, vex, devil, irk.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "annoy"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.