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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of irritate
Little things, like the close-ups of Moss’s face with her little smirk, used so frequently as to lose all meaning, began to irritate me.
—
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Your skin is already angry, so do your best to avoid products that might irritate it further, including harsh soaps.
—Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 9 Apr. 2025
When handled, these treefrogs secrete a sticky toxin as a defense, which can be irritating to mucous membranes of people or pets who make contact with them.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2025
The second walk irritated the pitcher, as home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman’s ball four call on a 3-2 count appeared incorrect.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritate
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Your skin is already angry, so do your best to avoid products that might irritate it further, including harsh soaps.
—Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 9 Apr. 2025
When handled, these treefrogs secrete a sticky toxin as a defense, which can be irritating to mucous membranes of people or pets who make contact with them.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2025
The second walk irritated the pitcher, as home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman’s ball four call on a 3-2 count appeared incorrect.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritate
Verb
-
Seiders, 44, is charged with felony child pornography possession, misdemeanor annoying a child under 18, concealing a camera with intent to invade privacy and attempting to conceal a camera.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
-
What annoyed me was good old-fashioned stupid gameplay.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But the contradiction was apparent for anyone willing to scratch the surface: the three public suspensions and one defection from the Pentagon’s top ranks were all, until very recently, Hegseth loyalists.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
22 Apr. 2025
-
The surface of a cat tree is usually covered in a textured, carpet-like material for scratching.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow was popular enough that fans wanted a solo story, but the studio didn't bother to make it until her character was already dead in the major timeline, then skipped the theatrical release, which Johansson sued them about.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
19 Apr. 2025
-
So much so that Gillaspie didn’t bother to even grab a towel last summer when a pitching coach yelled into the visiting showers to alert him that Triple-A El Paso manager Pete Zamora needed to see him.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
If another caterpillar wanders into their territory, these tiny critters start furiously drumming their heads, shaking their bodies and scraping their butts against the leaf—a series of complex vibratory behaviors to signal that their leaf tip is off-limits.—
Rohini Subrahmanyam,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Sifting and scraping toxic particles would only further the ongoing coastal erosion, which is its own climate change impact.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Aaron Boone said Bellinger’s back started bugging him during Thursday’s game against the Diamondbacks.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Ralph Macchio on the one thing that still bugs him about Karate Kid Part II My Cousin Vinny tells the story of three bombastic Italian-Americans caught up in an over-the-top legal drama.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Set in the summer of 1969, 14-year-old Evie is chafing against her suburban, upper-middle class upbringing.—
Bailey Seybolt,
People.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
The case out of Washington, D.C., dates back to the administration of President Joe Biden but comes to a verdict as environmental groups chafe at President Donald Trump's efforts to eliminate climate and environmental regulations pushed under Biden.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In a video posted to his Truth Social platform in December 2023, Trump accused the FBI and DOJ of sending undercover spies to churches to persecute people of faith.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
-
The statement concluded with an expression of solidarity with Christians who are persecuted.—
Chloe Breyer,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Extended exposure to pollutants like ozone or fine particulate matter can lead to coughing, throat irritation and shortness of breath, and may aggravate conditions like asthma and bronchitis.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Breathing danger: Health risks from ash Breathing volcanic ash can irritate the throat and lungs, trigger asthma attacks and aggravate chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD.—
David Kitchen,
The Conversation,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irritate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritate. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share