irritating

adjective

ir·​ri·​tat·​ing ˈir-ə-ˌtā-tiŋ 

: causing displeasure, anger, or annoyance

an irritating noise/habit

I felt more and more angry. There was something very irritating and aggressive in Summerlee's demeanour.

—Arthur Conan Doyle

irritatingly

ˈir-ə-ˌtā-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

The computer was irritatingly slow.

Synonyms

• abrasive
• aggravating
• annoying
• bothersome
• carking
• chafing
• disturbing
• exasperating
• frustrating
• galling
• irksome
• maddening
• nettlesome
• nettling
• peeving
• pesky
• pestiferous
• pestilent
• pestilential
• pesty
• plaguey
• plaguy
• rankling
• rebarbative
• riling
• vexatious
• vexing

Examples of irritating in a Sentence

his particularly irritating habit of leaving his dirty clothes on the floor

this soap leaves a residue that might be a little irritating if you have sensitive skin

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than over-stripping your skin of essential moisture, this fragrance-free formula provides a deep cleanser with hydrating hyaluronic acid—and leaves out synthetic (and notoriously irritating) fragrances, soaps, and alcohol. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 21 June 2024

Advertisement This chef-first MO is mildly irritating to his corporate overlords. —Jamie Feldmar, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2024

Everything needs to be just so, and nothing is, and that’s very irritating to Ashton, but at least his wife, Poppy, is able to bring him around to give Nora the wedding day that will be meaningful and joyful to her. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 2 May 2024

While many ingredients might be too irritating for young skin (or just a waste of money) there are options here that will keep a parent and a tween happy. —Megan McIntyre, Allure, 20 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined above