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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irritate
Prosecutors said Brandon had acted poorly, irritating patrons and embarrassing Kevin, which sparked the fatal beating.
—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2026
Avoid inhaling the dust—even food-grade—as prolonged exposure can irritate the lungs, says Harlow-Ellis.
—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
24 June 2026
Residents have been advised that the smoke may be irritating, especially for groups who are sensitive to air quality.
—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
For those in their 50s and beyond, daily sun protection needs to be effective—but not at the risk of irritating increasingly delicate skin.
—
Jenny Berg,
Glamour,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritate
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2026
Avoid inhaling the dust—even food-grade—as prolonged exposure can irritate the lungs, says Harlow-Ellis.
—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
24 June 2026
Residents have been advised that the smoke may be irritating, especially for groups who are sensitive to air quality.
—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
For those in their 50s and beyond, daily sun protection needs to be effective—but not at the risk of irritating increasingly delicate skin.
—
Jenny Berg,
Glamour,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for irritate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irritate
Verb
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Damian used to get annoyed with his father's motivational chats about responsibility.
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Three hours before the parade is set to begin, paradegoers are already annoyed at the disorganization and slow-moving lines.
Verb
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In April, when Rojas got news that his father had been rushed to the hospital, Roberts quickly took the decision on whether to play out of Rojas’ hands, scratching him from the lineup.
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New York scratched across two more runs in the 10th, taking advantage of another throwing error by Abreu after Rosario's sinking liner squirted out of his glove for an RBI single.
Verb
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For all the chatter about his choices in handbags, Haaland doesn’t seem remotely bothered.
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What bothers me is the foot-dragging, the spinning in circles, the slow degradation of these characters into annoying stereotypes.
Verb
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But this adjustable Oxo measuring cup will save you time that would otherwise be spent scraping every last bit of peanut butter from the measuring cup.
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Colombia needed a 76th-minute goal from Crystal Palace standout Daniel Muñoz to scrape past the DRC, but that goal pushed the team into first place in the group.
Verb
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The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.
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His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined.
Verb
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Except half the time, those cute sandals rub, chafe, and leave my feet aching.
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Afterward, he was asked about race and politics almost exclusively, a narrowing of his work that often chafed.
Verb
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Representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine have been persecuted.
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Pennsylvania’s 1682 frame of government promised that law-abiding people would not be persecuted for their religious views or forced to worship.
Verb
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Their drama is already stale, and between Nathan’s touchiness and Joe’s mistreatment of women, their fight over who is a better guy, a better seaman, a better worker, a better boyfriend is disengaging at best and aggravating at worst.
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Certain movements may aggravate the pain, such as, oh, swinging a golf club.
Cite this Entry
“Irritate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irritate. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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