irritative

adjective

ir·​ri·​ta·​tive ˈir-ə-ˌtā-tiv 

1

: serving to excite : irritating

2

: accompanied with or produced by irritation

irritative coughing

Examples of irritative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In general, obstructive symptoms are less common than irritative symptoms in bladder cancer. — Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2025

Your itching on the neck may simply be an allergic or irritative response to the elastic in the mask strap. — Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 22 Oct. 2021

The short-term risks of breathing wildfire smoke include irritative symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, burning eyes, runny nose, wheezing and difficulty breathing. — Kellie Hwang, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 May 2021

The short-term risks of breathing in wildfire smoke include irritative symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, burning eyes, runny nose, wheezing and difficulty breathing. — Kellie Hwang, SFChronicle.com, 26 Aug. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for irritative

• allocative
• appellative
• applicative
• commutative
• connotative
• copulative
• degradative
• dissipative
• educative
• exudative
• facultative
• imitative

Medical Definition

irritative

adjective

ir·​ri·​ta·​tive ˈir-ə-ˌtāt-iv 

1

: serving to excite : irritating

an irritative agent

2

: accompanied with or produced by irritation

irritative coughing