irritating

adjective

ir·​ri·​tat·​ing ˈir-ə-ˌtā-tiŋ How to pronounce irritating (audio)
: 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 adverb
The computer was irritatingly slow.

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
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.
The solution proved to be nearly as irritating as the problem. Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 14 June 2025 The most prevalent active ingredients in the videos were not only irritating, but are also known to increase sun sensitivity. ​wendy Wisner, Parents, 10 June 2025 Consumer only just got used to the $70 increase from $60 a few years ago, and now this leap to $80, spearheaded by Nintendo and its Mario Kart World pricing, is irritating and exhausting when 4-5 games will now be the cost of an entire console by themselves. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 People with sensitive skin may prefer mineral sunscreen, which is less irritating, while those with oily skin may prefer the lighter consistency of gel sunscreen.13 Step 8: Makeup Makeup isn't part of a skin care routine, per se, but many people opt for it. Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for irritating

Word History

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of irritating was in 1707

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Cite this Entry

“Irritating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritating. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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