English 
español 
française 
italiano 
deutsche 
日本語 
polski 
česky 
svenska 
Türkçe 
Nederlands 
Cousins of discomfort: comparing "annoying" vs "irritating"
Lloyd Cooper 30/09/2024, 17:22English.me team member
What is similar?
Both words refer to causing a feeling of discomfort or bother.
What is different?
Annoying often implies a milder, more persistent nuisance, while irritating can suggest a stronger or more immediate reaction.
Which one is more common?
Examples of usage
Annoying- The constant buzzing of the fly was quite annoying.
- Her habit of tapping her pen was annoying everyone in the meeting.
- The itchy sweater made the entire day irritating.
- Listening to the same song repeatedly became irritating after a while.
Recommended posts in 
Difference
"Enthralled" vs. "engrossed": delving into captivating nuances
While both words imply a deep level of attention, "enthralled" ... Learn more →
Distinguishing "needless" from "unnecessary"
The word "needless" often has a slightly stronger connotation of ... Learn more →
Blink of an eye: "nanosecond" vs "millisecond" in the world of seconds
A nanosecond is one billionth (1/1,000,000,000) of a second, while ... Learn more →
Many ways to say many: exploring "multiple" vs "myriad"
"Multiple" usually implies several or many, without specifying a particular ... Learn more →