annoy

/ə-ˈnȯi/

Middle English anoien, from Anglo-French anuier, ennoier, from Late Latin inodiare to make loathsome, from Latin in + odium hatred

verb

  1. to disturb or irritate especially by repeated acts

  2. to harass especially by quick brief attacks

  3. to cause annoyance

annoyed the neighbors with their loud arguments

annoy vex irk bother mean to upset a person's composure. annoy implies a wearing on the nerves by persistent petty unpleasantness. vex implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety.