irritation

noun

ir·​ri·​ta·​tion ˌir-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

a

: the state of being irritated

b

: something that irritates

c

: the act of irritating

2

: a condition of irritability, soreness, roughness, or inflammation of a bodily part

Synonyms

• aggravation
• aggro [British]
• annoyance
• bother
• botheration
• exasperation
• frustration
• grief
• pip [chiefly British]
• vexation

Examples of irritation in a Sentence

Dad's general irritation at the incessant complaining coming from the back seat of the car.

Recent Examples on the Web

To be hypoallergenic, a fabric needs to be free of chemicals that can cause irritation to people with hyper-sensitive skin. —Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 June 2024

If there's too much room, their feet can slip around, which may cause unwanted irritation and blisters. —Casey Clark, Parents, 1 June 2024

Retinoids can aggravate skin, so the centella asiatica helps decrease or prevent skin irritation, Mona Gohara, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, told Health. —Lisa Desantis, Health, 1 June 2024

Kenny Smith, Barkley’s on-screen foil, voiced his irritation. —Tania Ganguli, New York Times, 28 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Kids Definition

irritation

noun

ir·​ri·​ta·​tion ˌir-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of irritating : the state of being irritated

2

: irritant entry 2

Medical Definition

irritation

noun

ir·​ri·​ta·​tion ˌir-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

a

: the act of irritating

b

: something that irritates

c

: the state of being irritated

2

: a condition of irritability, soreness, roughness, or inflammation of a bodily part