irritate

verb

ir·​ri·​tate ˈir-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce irritate (audio)
irritated; irritating

transitive verb

1
: to provoke impatience, anger, or displeasure in : annoy
2
: to induce irritability in or of

intransitive verb

: to cause or induce displeasure or irritation
Choose the Right Synonym for irritate

irritate, exasperate, nettle, provoke, rile, peeve mean to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance.

irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

constant nagging that irritated me greatly

exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

your pompous attitude nettled several people

provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

remarks made solely to provoke her

rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

the new work schedules riled the employees

peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

Examples of irritate in a Sentence

It's his arrogance that really irritates me. The other passengers were irritated by the child's rudeness. Harsh soaps can irritate the skin.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Always dilute apple cider vinegar with water and drink through a straw to avoid damaging tooth enamel and irritating the esophagus. Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2025 The decision by Aaron Turner, Kuminga’s agent, to go on a media tour in recent weeks while negotiating publicly in hopes of landing a better offer for Kuminga, irritated some with the organization, according to league sources. Nick Friedell, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025 His eerie calm seems to irritate Dawn even more than a candidly emotional confrontation would have done. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2025 Her aging stepfather knocks heads with her flawed and irritating ex-husband, who also moves into the home. The Know, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for irritate

Word History

Etymology

Latin irritatus, past participle of irritare

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of irritate was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Irritate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritate. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

irritate

verb
ir·​ri·​tate ˈir-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce irritate (audio)
irritated; irritating
1
: to cause impatience, anger, or displeasure in : annoy
were irritated by the child's rudeness
2
: to make sore or inflamed
harsh soaps can irritate the skin

Medical Definition

irritate

verb
ir·​ri·​tate ˈir-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce irritate (audio)
irritated; irritating

transitive verb

1
: to provoke impatience, anger, or displeasure in
2
: to cause (an organ or tissue) to be irritable : produce irritation in
harsh soaps may irritate the skin
3
: to produce excitation in (as a nerve) : cause (as a muscle) to contract

intransitive verb

: to induce irritation

More from Merriam-Webster on irritate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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