annoy
an•noy (ə nvt.
[[ME anoien < OFr anoier < VL inodiare < in odio habere (or esse), to have (or be) in hate: see ODIUM]]
1 to irritate, bother, or make somewhat angry, as by a repeated action, noise, etc.
2 to harm by repeated attacks; harry; molest
–vi. to be annoying
–an•
SYN
–annoy implies temporary disturbance of mind caused by something that displeases one or tries one’s patience; vex implies a more serious source of irritation and greater disturbance, often intense worry; irk stresses a wearing down of one’s patience by persistent annoyance; bother implies minor disturbance of one’s peace of mind and may suggest mild perplexity or anxiety; to tease is to annoy by persistent mocking or playful fooling; plague suggests mental torment comparable to the physical suffering caused by an affliction
—ANT. comfort, soothe
–annoy implies temporary disturbance of mind caused by something that displeases one or tries one’s patience; vex implies a more serious source of irritation and greater disturbance, often intense worry; irk stresses a wearing down of one’s patience by persistent annoyance; bother implies minor disturbance of one’s peace of mind and may suggest mild perplexity or anxiety; to tease is to annoy by persistent mocking or playful fooling; plague suggests mental torment comparable to the physical suffering caused by an affliction
—ANT. comfort, soothe
