əˈnɔɪəns ˈbɒðəɹ ˌbɒðəˈɹeɪʃn̩ ˌbɑðəˈɹeɪʃ(ə)n ɪnˈflɪkʃən ˌɪɹɪˈteɪʃən ˈnusəns ˈnjuːsəns peɪn vɛkˈseɪʃən something or someone that causes trouble; a source of unhappiness a bit of a bother he's not a friend, he's an infliction washing dishes was a pain in the neck before we got a dish washer the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed