What's the difference between annoy and irk?

Annoy


Definition:

  • (n.) To disturb or irritate, especially by continued or repeated acts; to tease; to ruffle in mind; to vex; as, I was annoyed by his remarks.
  • (n.) To molest, incommode, or harm; as, to annoy an army by impeding its march, or by a cannonade.
  • (n.) A feeling of discomfort or vexation caused by what one dislikes; also, whatever causes such a feeling; as, to work annoy.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Asked about white predominance in the sport, South African rugby journalist Paul Dobson replied: "If you suggest that again I'll get annoyed and put the phone down.
  • (2) He was 'annoyed' after a phone call with Maxine Carr, in which she'd told him she was going out 'again' with her mother that evening in Grimsby ('Do you like to control people?'
  • (3) When my pictures were published, some Star Wars fans were annoyed that the house in this picture had been left in such a state of disrepair.
  • (4) One of the most annoying complications of rhinoplasty is the supra-tip hump (pollybeak).
  • (5) Indeed, while people might be annoyed or alarmed at the idea of being given placebos, medics probably wouldn't need to were it not for the modern blight of the Worried Well clogging up consulting rooms.
  • (6) Although mumbling is frustrating and annoying at times, it may be a helpful clue to some of the client's most anxiety-provoking thoughts or feelings.
  • (7) Later, when Leven moved to another squat, in Maida Vale, London, he suggested they bring in a bass player and percussionist to form a band, and they started rehearsing "with mattresses around the walls to deaden the sound, but still annoying the neighbours".
  • (8) It’s annoying that we haven’t stretched our lead but we’ve got to accept that and take it forward.
  • (9) It is difficult to prove that noise is detrimental to our health; many people are annoyed by noise; however, only particular groups (children, the elderly, the handicapped, people who wear a hearing aid, people with heart disease) are affected as far as health is concerned, and it is these people who require special protection.
  • (10) Noise in open-plan computer rooms and annoyance and perceived deterioration in performance associated with it also appears to be a problem that may be similarly categorized.
  • (11) The program kept asking what my surname at birth was - annoying, since, despite getting married in 1994, I've had the same surname all my life.
  • (12) Our government understands that we have to help but if they send troops officially, that would annoy Europe, and Nato.
  • (13) Rather than getting annoyed, you’re feeling comforted.
  • (14) Amazon and MasterCard don't like it either, and their clients were probably annoyed.
  • (15) His annoyance was memorably captured by a BBC film crew for a documentary.
  • (16) And you can see that some writers' talents are fed by great exposure to society and then there are others – DH Lawrence is a good example – who think they want acceptance but actually they can't stand it and they've got to annoy people by pointing out uncomfortable things, and that's more me.
  • (17) Merkel will be annoyed that a group set up by the Tories has given a platform to her opponents.
  • (18) Information on safety and side effects is also presented, such as a possible increase in serum cholesterol levels and annoying side effects that may severely limit widespread use of this food supplement.
  • (19) After the second such call, my wife became annoyed at the intrusion he was making in our weekend.
  • (20) Irritations are mainly due to the particulate phase of environmental tobacco smoke, whereas the gas phase is to a large extent responsible for annoyance.

Irk


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To weary; to give pain; to annoy; -- used only impersonally at present.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) When the rats were grouped into animals with mild (20%), moderate (50%), and severe (80%) reductions in maximal IRK activity, it was found that the mild and moderate defects could be reversed once the receptors were subjected to extensive autophosphorylation in vitro.
  • (2) We characterized the mechanism of IRK inhibition and studied whether it is the consequence of a glucose-induced stimulation of protein kinase C (PKC).
  • (3) 18 May 2014 New £69.4bn proposal, worth £55 a share, piles pressure on AstraZeneca's board to enter negotiations with Pfizer 19 May 2014 AstraZeneca board rejects Pfizer's final £69bn takeover bid , irking some large shareholders
  • (4) Reports of George’s stag do at Ristorante da Ivo near St Mark’s Square with the free £3,000 meal featuring six flavours of ice cream, including takeaway cartons, initially irked me.
  • (5) Joleon Lescott last weekend irked supporters by clumsily saying relegation was a “weight off the shoulders”.
  • (6) Wenger must be the only manager in football to be irked by reports that he will be offered a new deal.
  • (7) Walking by last Monday, Trump gestured towards an image of his inauguration crowd – a point that still irks him – and told reporters there would soon be an official statement about the future of his national security adviser, Michael Flynn.
  • (8) Blogger Yomi Adegoke said: "Thinly veiling vanity as philanthropy more than irks … the pretence these images are for anything other than an onslaught of 'natural beauty' acclamations, coupled with pats on the back for 'fighting the cause' makes the no makeup selfie mania even harder to stomach."
  • (9) We, therefore, conclude that glucose intolerance in aging could be attributed at least in part to acquired defects in the in vivo activation of the hepatic IRK, which results in reduced phosphorylation of its putative substrate pp180.
  • (10) But while agreeing that the results should not be exaggerated, D'Alimonte still thinks they indicate that the Five Star shine is wearing off among some voters - including those who were irked by the rambunctious figurehead's refusal to support a minority government led by the centre-left Democratic party (PD), thus forcing the PD to form a coalition with Berlusconi's centre-right.
  • (11) The corporation's power online and expanding digital TV and radio channels have irked beleaguered commercial rivals, resulting in an attack by James Murdoch, head of News Corporation in the UK.
  • (12) The home crowd turned their ire on the Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai – his decision to dismiss Piiroja for handball in the 76th minute particularly irked them – but they were deluding themselves if they thought he was to blame.
  • (13) Right now is not the time.” The midfielder refused to be drawn on suggestions that his team-mates were irked by his comments, and insisted the atmosphere among the squad in Brazil was similar to during the glorious Euro 2012 campaign.
  • (14) Hyperglycemia causes insulin-receptor kinase (IRK) resistance in fat cells.
  • (15) The comments irked the geologists' professional body, which was founded in 1807 as a dining club in a London pub.
  • (16) Philip Hammond appears to have irked the prime minister by making a sexist remark in cabinet, exposing the tensions at the highest level of government.
  • (17) Look, he’s the clear frontrunner, he’s been in six debates already, answered more questions from the media than any other candidate on the stage combined.” The Fox News press release that irked Trump and led to his withdrawal read: “We learned from a secret back channel that the Ayatollah and Putin both intend to treat Donald Trump unfairly when they meet with him if he becomes president – a nefarious source tells us that Trump has his own secret plan to replace the Cabinet with his Twitter followers to see if he should even go to those meetings.” Trump derided it as “a wise guy press release .
  • (18) To determine whether defects in insulin receptor kinase (IRK) activity or in the phosphorylation of its physiological substrates underlie this age-related phenomenon, young (2-3 months old) and old (24-27 months old) Wistar rats were studied.
  • (19) Field has already irked the medallion stallion with some low blows before the bell has rung, but it looks doubtful whether punches will be pulled for the number crunchers.
  • (20) Linehan, who turned 44 last week, is irked by the persistence of the idea that the sitcom that brought him and Arthur Mathews to the attention of millions has canned laughter on it.