as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
the whining child was a constant irritant to his long-suffering parents
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irritant
Chemical irritants affect the eyes, skin and lungs first, causing scratches to the surface of the eye, painful skin reactions, breathing difficulties and acute psychological distress.
—
Michele Heisler, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
Inflammation is your immune system's natural response to irritants, injuries, or infections.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Feb. 2026
He was sprayed with what appeared to be a chemical irritant, then shot.
—La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Outside the detention center on Wednesday, Texas state police deployed chemical irritants toward protesters, who had gathered in support of the detainees being held at the facility.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritant
Michele Heisler, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
Inflammation is your immune system's natural response to irritants, injuries, or infections.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Feb. 2026
He was sprayed with what appeared to be a chemical irritant, then shot.
—La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Outside the detention center on Wednesday, Texas state police deployed chemical irritants toward protesters, who had gathered in support of the detainees being held at the facility.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritant
Noun
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Psyduck, one of the main Pokémon used by Misty in the series, was a water-type who could use powerful psychic moves, but the timing and effectiveness of its abilities was disrupted by its constant headaches.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2026
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On the same day Amber Glenn won Olympic gold as part of the team event and stepped away from social media due to backlash over her comments on politics and the LGBTQ+ community, the American figure skater ended up with another headache.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Intentionally obstructing the roadway, especially while impeding emergency access, is a misdemeanor in Minnesota, as is being a public nuisance by blocking the right-of-way.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 2026
-
For rulers abroad, the Puerto Rican people were mostly a nuisance to be managed.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In Christianity, its leaves represent the crown of thorns and berries Christ’s blood.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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According to fashion reporter Jarrod Jenkins, who shared a video of the event on his Instagram, Taylor said the theme of her previous Air Jordan 1 Zoom Cmft collaboration was centered around the rose, while the new Air Jordan 3 project hones in on the thorns.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Inflation has weighed on shoppers, and customers have voiced frustration over cluttered stores and inconsistent merchandise that strayed from the retailer’s identity as a polished, affordable-chic chain.—
Emily Lorsch,
NBC news,
10 Feb. 2026
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DeRozan said Sacramento’s poor play was the source of his outward show of frustration following an alley-oop dunk by Zion Williamson in the third period.—
HECTOR AMEZCUA,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Otherwise, the biggest throughline of this episode is Jane’s annoyance at the concept of the challenge.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2026
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That's when a high credit card APR stops being an annoyance and starts becoming a structural problem in your finances.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irritant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritant. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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