Entry Word: irritate

Function: verb

Meaning: 1 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 aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk, nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, vex

Related Words hassle, heckle; nag; inflame, provoke, rouse; bait, harass, harry, pester; anger, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden; agitate, disturb, fret, perturb, upset; affront, insult, offend, outrage

Phrases rub the wrong way

Near Antonyms appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate; delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy; comfort, console, content, quiet, soothe

2 to make sore by continued rubbing <new shoes usually irritate my feet> — see chafe 1