What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
annoyed
Example
I was annoyed when my neighbor played loud music late at night. [annoyed: past tense]
Example
She gets easily annoyed when people interrupt her while she's working. [annoyed: adjective]
irritated
Example
His constant tapping on the table irritated me during the meeting. [irritated: past tense]
Example
I could tell she was irritated by the way she sighed and rolled her eyes. [irritated: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Annoyed is more commonly used than irritated in everyday language. Annoyed is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while irritated is slightly less common and tends to be used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between annoyed and irritated?
Both annoyed and irritated are generally considered informal and can be used in casual conversations. However, irritated may sound slightly more formal due to its stronger connotation.