annoy
[verb]
Synonyms: irritate, anger, bother, displease, disturb, exasperate, get on one's nerves (informal), hassle (informal), madden, molest, pester, plague, trouble, vex

---

Antonyms: soothe
Contrasted words: comfort, console, solace, content, gratify, please, satisfy, disregard, ignore, overlook, appease, calm, dulcify, mollify, cool, lull, subdue
Related Idioms: get in one's hair, get (or grate) on one's nerves, rub one the wrong way
Related Words: agitate, disturb, perturb, upset, badger, bait, chivy, heckle, hector, chafe, distress, gall, rub

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

an‧noy S3 /əˈnɔɪ/ verb [transitive]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: enuier, from Latin inodiare, from odium; ⇒ odious]
to make someone feel slightly angry and unhappy about something Synonym : irritate:
What annoyed him most was that he had received no apology.
It really annoys me when I see people dropping litter.
She annoyed him with her stupid questions.

REGISTER
In everyday English, people also often use the phrase get on someone's nerves:
She got on his nerves with her stupid questions.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

annoy
verb
ADV. intensely, really His air of calm superiority annoyed her intensely. It really annoys me when people forget to say thank you.
slightly
VERB + ANNOY be beginning to The wasps were beginning to annoy me.
PHRASES do sth just/only to annoy sb I only stay out late to annoy my parents.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

annoy
verb
1.
DUBIOUS: The noise of the traffic outside all day annoys me.
GOOD: The noise of the traffic outside all day irritates me.
DUBIOUS: I feel rather annoyed when I see the same advertisement time and time again.
GOOD: I feel rather irritated when I see the same advertisement time and time again.

Usage Note:
Something unpleasant that happens repeatedly or continuously over a long period of time tends to irritate or frustrate people, especially because they know that they can do nothing to stop it: 'I felt so tense that even the ticking of the clock began to irritate me.' 'I am constantly frustrated by all the niggling little jobs I have to do.'

---

2.
BAD: Some people are annoyed by these violent films.
GOOD: Some people are disturbed by these violent films.
GOOD: Some people find these violent films disturbing.

Usage Note:
Someone who is emotionally shocked by something they see or read is disturbed/upset/distressed/offended by it, or they find it disturbing/upsetting/distressing/offensive : 'Viewers are warned that this documentary contains a number of violent scenes which they may find disturbing.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲