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annoyed
/əˈnɔɪd/
slightly angry or irritated
She felt annoyed when her phone kept buzzing during the meeting.
She was slightly angry because her phone was disturbing the meeting.
informal
feeling mild anger or irritation due to something unpleasant or bothersome
He was annoyed by the loud construction noise outside his window.
The loud construction noise made him feel irritated.
I’m annoyed that my package hasn’t arrived yet.
I feel frustrated because my package is late.
Used to describe a mild, temporary feeling of irritation rather than strong anger.
Collocations
annoyed withirritated by someone or somethingannoyed atirritated by a specific action or situationdeeply annoyedvery irritated
Pro Tip
Distinguish from stronger emotions
'Annoyed' implies mild irritation, while 'angry' or 'furious' describe stronger emotions. For example, 'I’m annoyed by the noise' suggests it’s bothersome but not overwhelming.
Gold Rule
Use with specific causes
Always pair 'annoyed' with a preposition (with/at) to clarify what caused the irritation. Incorrect: 'I’m annoyed.' Correct: 'I’m annoyed with the slow internet.'
Word Origin
From Old French *anoier* (to weary, harass), derived from Latin *inodiare* (to make odious), from *odium* (hatred). The sense of mild irritation emerged in Middle English.
Usage Notes
Typically used for temporary, situational irritation rather than deep-seated anger. Often followed by 'with' or 'at' to specify the cause (e.g., 'annoyed with the delay'). Avoid using it for strong emotions like rage.
Word Breakdown
an-
to
prefix-noy-
harm or irritation
root-ed
past participle suffix indicating state
suffixEnglish Dictionary