as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
she irked her friend by chewing her gum loudly during the movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
one of the prof's major irks is a cell phone that rings during a lecture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of irk
ABC News, 11 May 2026
Sure, robots can be kitschy and cute, but frankly, their growing presence has begun to irk and distract me, becoming a bit too synonymous with gimmicky pan-Asian hotpot fare.
—Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
Washington Post, 22 Apr. 2022
The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson varieties seem to sit somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of immunological irk.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for irk
Verb
Some of the movies that escaped Neon’s grasp still irk Quinn.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
Sure, robots can be kitschy and cute, but frankly, their growing presence has begun to irk and distract me, becoming a bit too synonymous with gimmicky pan-Asian hotpot fare.
—Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026
Noun
The violence gets worse from there, and somehow all that is supposed to fit into a show about a Washington socialite whose biggest irk in the premiere is her rivalry with the first lady.
—Washington Post, 22 Apr. 2022
The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson varieties seem to sit somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of immunological irk.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for irk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irk
Verb
-
That’s what so annoys Erika at some point.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
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But if creases annoy you, look elsewhere.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome causes fatigue, fever, muscle aches, abdominal problems, headaches, chills and dizziness in the early stages, and late symptoms include chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath and lungs filling with fluid.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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And Malia is also achingly lonesome for her family life, with a sister about to get married and a doting father played, in this headache-inducingly twisty psychodrama’s most refreshing meta-twist, by Romanian director Radu Jude.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Now the dog is back to bothering her brother and showing off her sassy personality.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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This is a nakedly partisan power grab, and state officials haven’t really bothered to deny it.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The hotel is on a block next to a major road, but the noise is more of a distant city hum than a nuisance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
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Sargassum has become an increasingly expensive nuisance for coastal communities, and as blooms become larger due to warming water temperatures because of climate change and fertilizer run off providing blooms with endless nutrients, the problem will continue to mushroom.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Elsa’s inquisitive presence almost instantly irritates Amalia, as the latter refuses to simply acquiesce to her relentless quizzing.—
Lé Baltar,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
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Apply Essential Oils at Entry Points Essential oils such as lavender, citrus, peppermint, and eucalyptus irritate crickets' sensory organs, McHale says.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Kris says of the fascinator — is actually a crown of sticks and thorns that would fit in beautifully in an episode of Yellowjackets.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
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Wear protective clothing and leather gloves, as thorns found along the stems hurt.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Verb
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When Riley returned to the table, La La told me that his high profile in the city sometimes bugged her, because fans were always interrupting them, even sitting down at their table.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Although pest control companies offer lethal solutions such as carpenter bee traps or chemical treatments, the best way to keep carpenter bees from bugging you is using stained, sealed, varnished or treated wood in building projects.—
Sarah Linn
April 24,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Viola’s reaction spotlighted growing frustration among competitors who believe the ruling body is using procedural fixes to avoid addressing biological differences in girls' sports.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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Many of them came from north Denver, where neighbors have expressed frustration about a CoreSite data center there.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irk. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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