1
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
constant chatter irritated the student, who was trying to concentrate on a hard assignment
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Recent Examples of irritate
Plus, the flexible upper won’t irritate or rub against your feet.
—
Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
The impish half-smile that irritates opponents eventually returns to his face, though.
—Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026
Scented and bleached toilet paper can have irritating chemicals, while wiping the wrong way can increase your risk of infection.
—Pamela Assid Woughter, Verywell Health, 11 May 2026
Hydrogen sulfide, a gas commonly associated with sewage, can irritate the eyes and respiratory system and in higher concentrations may cause more serious health effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritate
Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
The impish half-smile that irritates opponents eventually returns to his face, though.
—Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 11 May 2026
Scented and bleached toilet paper can have irritating chemicals, while wiping the wrong way can increase your risk of infection.
—Pamela Assid Woughter, Verywell Health, 11 May 2026
Hydrogen sulfide, a gas commonly associated with sewage, can irritate the eyes and respiratory system and in higher concentrations may cause more serious health effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritate
Verb
-
That’s what so annoys Erika at some point.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
-
But if creases annoy you, look elsewhere.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The chance to work with the former Brighton & Hove Albion manager had been a significant draw for many of the players who had joined the club over the previous 18 months, and his abrupt departure left some scratching their heads.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Corona de Oro, the 11 horse on Saturday, was scratched well ahead of the Derby, and Great White, who reared up and fell on his back after becoming startled shortly before entering the Derby gate, took the 13 post on Saturday.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
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In a funny touch of feminist commentary, the Pounds parents are intent on their bratty son Andrew (Hamnet survivor Jacobi Jupe) getting the best possible education but less bothered about glum daughter Drissila (Evie Templeton).—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
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What bothers him most, however, is the suggestion that neo-soul lacked authenticity or cultural purpose.—
Datwon Thomas,
VIBE.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
If using garden cucumbers, peel off the waxy skin and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds before slicing.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
15 May 2026
-
Brazil beat the Netherlands 3–2 in the quarterfinals and scraped past Sweden 1–0 in the semifinals thanks to a goal from forward Romário.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
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
Verb
-
Villanueva still chafes over these watchdog agencies.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
But the announcement April 28 that the United Arab Emirates was leaving OPEC caps years of tension where the desert state chafed under the cartel’s quotas, and recently, encountered severe strain in its relationship with Saudi Arabia, the group’s most potent force by far.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
My parents were supporters of the anti-apartheid movement and various family members were persecuted for being so also.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
-
When hunted, poisoned, and persecuted, the coyotes scattered and regrouped, their numbers surging a hundred-fold.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
Verb
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All of this was aggravated by a raft of economic uncertainties, from weak domestic consumption to the threat of a historic trade war with the US, leaving the keenest buyers, like Cai, to think twice before entering the market.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
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Raleigh left the Mariners’ 4-3 loss to the Houston Astros on Thursday after appearing to aggravate an injury on his right side.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irritate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritate. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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