Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person, thing, or situation that causes annoyance, inconvenience, or trouble: A "nuisance" is something or someone that is irritating, bothersome, or unwelcome.
   • (Law) An act, condition, or thing that is illegal because it interferes with the rights of the public or an individual: In legal terms, a "nuisance" is an activity or condition that disturbs the reasonable use and enjoyment of one's property or is offensive to the senses.

Usage Examples

• General Use:
  • The constant construction noise is a real nuisance for the residents.
  • Flies can be a terrible nuisance at a picnic.
  • He's always complaining; he's such a nuisance.
• Legal Use:
  • The factory's pollution was declared a public nuisance by the court.
  • Blocking a public pathway can be considered a nuisance.

Advanced Usage

• To make a nuisance of oneself: To behave in an annoying way that bothers other people.
  • The child was making a nuisance of himself by running around the restaurant.
• Commit no nuisance: A formal warning, often seen on signs, prohibiting activities like littering or public urination.
  • The sign on the wall clearly stated, "Commit no nuisance."

Variants and Related Words

• Nuisance value (noun): The quality of being annoying enough to force someone to pay attention or take action, often used in negotiations or conflicts.
  • The protestors had significant nuisance value, forcing the company to the bargaining table.
• Nuisance tax (noun): A tax considered irritating or burdensome because it is levied on minor items or is complicated to administer.
  • Many people view the stamp duty on documents as a nuisance tax.

Synonyms

• Annoyance: Something that causes mild irritation.
• Bother: A cause of trouble or inconvenience.
• Pest: A person or thing that is annoying. (Can also refer to a destructive insect or animal.)
• Irritant: Something that causes slight but persistent annoyance.

Related Phrases

• Public nuisance: (Legal) An act that interferes with the rights of the community.
  • Loud parties late at night can be treated as a public nuisance.
• Private nuisance: (Legal) An act that interferes with an individual's use and enjoyment of their land.
  • Your neighbor's tree roots damaging your foundation could be a private nuisance.

Idioms

• A necessary nuisance: Something that is annoying or troublesome but is also essential or unavoidable.
  • Filling out tax forms is a necessary nuisance.
• What a nuisance!: An exclamation expressing frustration or annoyance about a situation.
  • The train is delayed again? What a nuisance!

Noun

1. a bothersome annoying person
   • that kid is a terrible pain
2. (law) a broad legal concept including anything that disturbs the reasonable use of your property or endangers life and health or is offensive