Annoyance

PEST

Think of a small creature that might scurry around your kitchen or garden, often unwelcome and hard to get rid of.

Annoyance" is a straightforward definition clue pointing to something bothersome or irritating. The answer "PEST" fits perfectly because it describes a creature (like an insect or rodent) that causes trouble, but it also works figuratively for a person who’s a nuisance. There’s no hidden wordplay here—just a direct match between the clue’s meaning and the answer. Think of a mosquito buzzing in your ear or a neighbor who won’t stop complaining.