Emotion: Annoyance

When you want to write the emotion annoyance, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid emotional tells and immerse your readers in your story.

Annoyance is a feeling of mild to moderate irritation or discomfort caused by someone or something that is perceived as bothersome, tedious, or unpleasant. It is a common emotion that arises when a person is bothered by a situation or a behavior that they find frustrating, inconvenient, or irritating. Annoyance can be caused by a wide range of factors, such as noise, interruptions, delays, traffic, crowds, or other people's habits or attitudes. It can be a temporary or a persistent feeling, depending on the intensity and the duration of the stimulus that triggers it.

Different Types of Annoyance

Here are some different types of annoyance:

• Frustration with a task or situation that is difficult or unpleasant
• Irritation with someone who is being persistent or bothersome
• Impatience with someone who is moving too slowly or not getting to the point
• Displeasure with someone who is not meeting expectations or failing to keep promises
• Resentment towards someone who is taking advantage or being unfair
• Disgust towards something that is offensive or distasteful

Situations Associated with Annoyance

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of annoyance:

• Dealing with someone who is constantly interrupting or talking over them
• Being stuck in a traffic jam or delayed flight
• Receiving unwanted advice or criticism
• Being forced to do something they don't want to do
• Repeating themselves multiple times to someone who is not listening
• Being treated unfairly or unjustly
• Dealing with a repetitive or mundane task
• Being ignored or dismissed by someone they care about
• Having to deal with someone who is purposely being difficult or stubborn

Physical Reactions to Annoyance

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing annoyance might have:

• Frowning or scowling
• Rolling or narrowing the eyes
• Clenched jaw or teeth grinding
• Crossing arms or legs
• Tapping fingers or feet
• Sighing or huffing
• Interrupting or speaking over others
• Speaking in a curt or snappy tone
• Avoiding eye contact
• Being easily agitated or irritated
• Making sarcastic comments or jokes

Thoughts Associated with Annoyance

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing annoyance might have:

• Why won't they just leave me alone?
• This is such a waste of my time.
• I can't believe they did that again.
• I'm so sick of this.
• I wish they would just listen to me.
• How many times do I have to tell them?
• This is ridiculous.
• I don't have time for this.
• I can feel my blood boiling.

Atmosphere of Annoyance

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of annoyance in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Use a setting that is noisy or chaotic, such as a crowded street or a busy restaurant.
• Describe details that are irritating to the character, like a flickering lightbulb or a persistent buzzing sound.
• Create a sense of claustrophobia or confinement, such as a small, cramped room or a tight deadline.
• Use weather to reflect the character's mood, like a hot, sticky day or a sudden rainstorm that ruins their plans.
• Set the scene in a place that the character dislikes or finds uncomfortable, like a doctor's office or a crowded elevator.
• Use repetition or interruptions in dialogue to reflect the character's frustration or impatience.
• Incorporate physical actions that show annoyance, like tapping a foot or clenching fists.

Verbs Associated with Annoyance

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of annoyance:

• Grumble
• Complain
• Fume
• Seethe
• Sigh
• Roll eyes
• Hiss
• Scowl
• Grimace
• Sneer
• Snap
• Whine
• Exasperate
• Irritate
• Aggravate
• Bother
• Chafe
• Rankle
• Ruffle

Emotions Before Annoyance

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences annoyance:

• Frustration
• Impatience
• Irritation
• Displeasure
• Discontentment
• Disappointment
• Disapproval
• Dismay
• Boredom

Emotions After Annoyance

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences annoyance:

• Frustration
• Anger
• Impatience
• Resentment
• Disgust
• Disappointment
• Indignation
• Irritation
• Hostility

Telling Annoyance Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion annoyance in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• She was annoyed.
• He felt irritated.
• Sarah was frustrated.
• He was bothered by the noise.
• She was fed up with the situation.
• He was annoyed at the delay.
• She was exasperated by his behavior.
• He was vexed by the constant interruptions.
• Sarah was aggravated by the incompetence.

Practical Examples of Showing Annoyance

Here are some examples of showing annoyance in a sentence:

• She slammed the door shut, muttering under her breath about the neighbor's noisy party.
• He rolled his eyes and sighed heavily as his boss went on and on about a pointless meeting.
• She wrinkled her nose in distaste as she flicked through the pages of the poorly written book.
• He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists as he waited in the never-ending line at the DMV.

Exercises for Showing Annoyance

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing annoyance:

• Write a scene where the character is stuck in traffic and running late for an important meeting.
• Describe a situation where the character is constantly interrupted while trying to focus on a task.
• Write a dialogue between the character and someone who is purposely being difficult or uncooperative.
• Describe a situation where the character's plans are constantly being changed or disrupted by external factors.
• Write a scene where the character is dealing with someone who is not listening to their concerns or needs.
• Describe a situation where the character is dealing with a customer service representative who is unhelpful or incompetent.
• Write a dialogue where the character is trying to explain something to someone who is not understanding or is being intentionally obtuse.
• Describe a situation where the character is dealing with someone who is being passive-aggressive or manipulative.
• Write a scene where the character is dealing with an annoying habit or behavior of someone close to them.

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full thesaurus of emotions.