Language tip of the week: making someone feel angry

In this weekly post, we bring more useful content from the Macmillan Dictionary to English language learners. In this series of language tips to accompany the Real Vocabulary theme we look at how you can expand your vocabulary in English by using different words and expressions instead of core vocabulary items.

This set of language tips will explore different ways to talk about emotions. This week’s tip looks at adjectives you can use to talk about people or things that make someone angry.

annoying making you feel slightly angry:
What’s your husband’s most annoying habit? ♦ The annoying thing was that she couldn’t stop saying ‘sorry’ all the time. ♦ He’s one of the most annoying people I know.
frustrating making you feel annoyed and impatient because you are prevented from doing what you want to do:
It’s frustrating to wait all day for a repairman who doesn’t show up. ♦ Hansen’s victory ended a frustrating period in her career. ♦ There were more frustrating delays at the airport.
irritating making you feel slightly annoyed: used about people, or about things that keep happening or continue for a long time:
She has an intensely irritating voice. ♦ I was beginning to find him very irritating.
infuriating extremely annoying:
He had an infuriating smile on his face. ♦ It’s infuriating to have to go back and do the whole thing again.
maddening so annoying that you find it difficult to control yourself:
During the summer the crowds can be maddening. ♦ the maddening buzz of a mosquito
stupid making you feel annoyed: used especially about things that do not work properly:
I can’t get this stupid printer to work. ♦ What a stupid haircut!