“annoyed”

Feeling irritated or frustrated by something troublesome or perplexing.

“She was vexed to find her meticulously organized files shuffled into chaos overnight.”

Best for: Works well in formal writing or speech; slightly elevated without being obscure.

Mildly but distinctly irritated by something petty or persistent.

“He was irked by the neighbor's habit of revving his motorcycle at dawn.”

Best for: Punchy and direct; great for casual to mid-register writing with a sharp edge.

Stung by a sense of wounded pride or mild offense.

“She left the meeting piqued, certain her idea had been dismissed without fair consideration.”

Best for: Best when the annoyance carries a layer of injured dignity or ego.

Easily angered or habitually irritable in temperament.

“The choleric professor snapped at students who arrived even a minute late.”

Best for: Literary and historical; drawn from humoral theory, suits character descriptions.

Worn into irritation by persistent friction, literally or emotionally.

“He chafed under the endless bureaucratic delays that strangled every project.”

Best for: Evocative and physical in feel; ideal for describing slow-building frustration.

Stung into sharp irritation, as if pricked by a nettle.

“She was visibly nettled by his offhand dismissal of her three years of research.”

Best for: Rare in modern use; vivid and tactile, perfect for literary or period writing.