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irk

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb irk differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of irk are annoy, bother, and vex. While all these words mean "to upset a person's composure," irk stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit.

careless waste irks the boss

In what contexts can annoy take the place of irk?

While the synonyms annoy and irk are close in meaning, annoy implies a wearing on the nerves by persistent petty unpleasantness.

their constant complaining annoys us

Where would bother be a reasonable alternative to irk?

The meanings of bother and irk largely overlap; however, bother suggests interference with comfort or peace of mind.

don't bother me while I'm reading

When can vex be used instead of irk?

The synonyms vex and irk are sometimes interchangeable, but vex implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety.

vexed by her son's failure to clean his room

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of irk
Verb
It's pumiced enough to have no snags, no irks. Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025 For his part, over in Coventry, Wright was irked at being substituted after 79 minutes and not getting the chance to grab a hat-trick. Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
New reaction: Whoa, which baseball deity did this guy irk? Zack Meisel, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 The violence gets worse from there, and somehow all that is supposed to fit into a show about a Washington socialite whose biggest irk in the premiere is her rivalry with the first lady. Washington Post, 22 Apr. 2022 See All Example Sentences for irk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irk
Verb
  • Don't push sales and annoy people.
    Nitin Gupta, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Comments about my fast walk annoy me.
    Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In a recent study by Climate Rights International, workers spoke of experiencing excessive sweating, headaches, fever, nausea, heat palpitations, dehydration and temporary vision loss.
    Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Soldiers reported headaches and nausea, leading Congress to cut funding in 2022.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Generally, mineral sunscreens are beloved by dermatologists for not irritating sensitive skin, the way chemical sunscreens can.
    Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Too many or poorly timed nudges irritate users.
    Prithvi Singh Shergill, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • According to the California Penal Code, a nuisance can be charged as a misdemeanor.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The recent interference with the European Commission President’s aircraft showed how quickly GPS denial can shift from nuisance to geopolitical signal.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The women were too busy cooking, crafting, and caring for the family to bother with the stone tools used by men in hunting and building.
    Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Why ban books, Postman asked, if no one bothers to read them?
    Time, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • An assertive Iran has been especially a thorn in the side of Saudi Arabia, which strives to be the dominant Muslim majority power in the region.
    David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
  • For the second straight season, Geno Smith has proven to be a thorn in the Patriots’ side, even if the veteran quarterback doesn’t see it that way.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Power gains are bugged to be too low for a new power grind that no one wants to do anyway.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • On average, the matador bugs increased their waving behavior seven times more in the presence of the predatory mantids.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There have been frustrations over how long the process has taken, with the leadership uncertainty further complicated by the exit of CEO Alex Mahon over the summer.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Poor Harriet, a gallery assistant who has been harassed since the pilot, gets the brunt of Laura’s frustration.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Irk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irk. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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