irritating

1 of 2

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.

irritating

2 of 2

present participle of irritate

Synonyms of irritating

Adjective

• annoying
• frustrating
• disturbing

Examples of irritating in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

But the current debate begins, like so many irritating conversations, with the 2016 election. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026

The process is used to transform raw, localized ingredients — such as rice, but also honey and soybeans — into more potent but non-irritating formulas that target cellular turnover and provide deep hydration by penetrating the skin more effectively. — Kati Chitrakorn, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026

The cold temperature will slow down the enzymes and ease the irritating effects. — Martha Stewart, 12 Oct. 2026

For home-office equipment, networking hardware, 3D printers, and other devices where unexpected shutdowns are costly or irritating, the Elite 300 can serve a dual purpose rather than sit unused until the next blackout. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1707, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for irritating

• abdicating
• abrogating
• activating
• actuating
• advocating
• aggravating
• aggregating
• agitating
• allocating
• alternating
• animating
• annotating