as in headaches
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in annoys
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of irks
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Will’s short stature and lack of experience irks his idol Jett Filmore (Gabrielle Union, doing some complex voice acting), the Thorns’ aging star player.
—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
There's something about red that just really irks me.
—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
12 Nov. 2025
This particular iteration just irks you for some reason.
—
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
There is no appeal process, which irks Smith.
—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Sep. 2025
It's pumiced enough to have no snags, no irks.
—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Knowing that this irks travelers, a growing number of hotels are installing intuitive lighting solutions.
—
Bailey Berg,
AFAR Media,
22 Aug. 2025
Mickey then makes mention of how much time Ashley has been spending up in the HOH room, which irks Ashley to no end.
—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
Tunnel clubs and creeping commercialisation which irks City’s legacy fans.
—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Will’s short stature and lack of experience irks his idol Jett Filmore (Gabrielle Union, doing some complex voice acting), the Thorns’ aging star player.
—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
There's something about red that just really irks me.
—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
12 Nov. 2025
This particular iteration just irks you for some reason.
—
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
There is no appeal process, which irks Smith.
—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Sep. 2025
It's pumiced enough to have no snags, no irks.
—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Knowing that this irks travelers, a growing number of hotels are installing intuitive lighting solutions.
—
Bailey Berg,
AFAR Media,
22 Aug. 2025
Mickey then makes mention of how much time Ashley has been spending up in the HOH room, which irks Ashley to no end.
—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irks
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.
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Americans who have health insurance say prior authorization is the healthcare system’s biggest burden, causing administrative headaches while care is kept out of reach.
Verb
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What is the pettiest thing that annoys you during a race weekend?
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One of the more common ways bear encounters escalate is when an off-leash dog runs toward a bear, annoys it, and then comes sprinting back to its owner with an angry predator in pursuit.
Noun
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Rewarding The Long-Term Customer One of the most common frustrations in telecom is the belief that new customers get the best deals while long-term customers are left behind.
-
Recent allegations of irregularities in government recruitment exams have only deepened frustrations among some young Indians.
Verb
-
What bothers me is the foot-dragging, the spinning in circles, the slow degradation of these characters into annoying stereotypes.
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What bothers me is the implication of a Labubu National Team full of these things.
Noun
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Besides being nuisances, many types carry diseases including West Nile virus, encephalitis, and canine heartworm.
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If the nuisances continue at Albany Care, the city is seeking a court order to shut the facility down, separate from the state action.
Verb
-
If someone is in your life long enough, they’re bound to do something that irritates you—and you’re bound to do something that irritates them.
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Elsa’s inquisitive presence almost instantly irritates Amalia, as the latter refuses to simply acquiesce to her relentless quizzing.
Noun
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An individual bush can grow up to 15 feet high and 40 feet long, with thick stems, also known as canes, marked by sharp, hooked thorns.
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The match was set, and now Rhodes will defend the title against the two thorns in his side since before Clash in Italy.
Verb
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What really bugs me about this moment, and about the battle and its aftermath, is the lack of feeling.
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When traveling, the EPA suggests inspecting any room visitors will be staying in for the presence of bed bugs.
Cite this Entry
“Irks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irks. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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