as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
she irked her friend by chewing her gum loudly during the movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
one of the prof's major irks is a cell phone that rings during a lecture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of irk
Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 18 Mar. 2026
The Bruins finished the season 16-1 in their own building, notching another huge win over Nebraska late on Tuesday (with the tip time irking UCLA coach Mick Cronin).
—Jim Root, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
Alfonso’s familial advantage has irked some Wisconsin Republicans who don’t want the newcomer to glide into such an important position.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 18 Mar. 2026
The Bruins finished the season 16-1 in their own building, notching another huge win over Nebraska late on Tuesday (with the tip time irking UCLA coach Mick Cronin).
—Jim Root, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
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
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Black also appeared as a frustrated office worker trying to get a co-worker (Ashley Padilla) to stop talking to him and others annoyed by the woman.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
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Unless you’re annoyed at paying the junior engineers $300,000 a year straight out of school.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Matterhorn Fit treats ailments that affect the neck, back and pelvis, which include sciatica, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, thoracic pain, cervical pain, sports hernia recovery and cervicogenic headache.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
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Symptoms generally appear within one or two weeks of infection, and can include fever, headache, rash and body aches.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Heat’s third matchup of the season against the Raptors didn’t go well either, as Toronto’s length on the defensive end again bothered Miami.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
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Along the way, Melton strained his left thumb — and that clearly bothered him.—
Ron Kroichick,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Reasons to Grow Moss in Your Garden Some gardeners consider moss a nuisance to be eradicated from their yards.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2026
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Two days later, legislators took up the Public Nuisance Reform Act, which proposes narrowing the definition of what could be considered a nuisance.—
Abrahm Lustgarten,
ProPublica,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The cream contains the brand’s Active Hydramesh Technology, which fights off environmental stressors that can irritate the skin while providing up to 48 hours of hydration.—
John Monaco,
InStyle,
1 Apr. 2026
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While essential oils usually don’t irritate sensitive skin, extra-sensitive folks should avoid them altogether.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Orbán has long been a thorn in the side of the EU, and has tested the bloc’s system of governance by frequently using his veto power to paralyze decision-making in order to leverage concessions.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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As many see it, a thorn in the EU's side is that major decisions require unanimity among its members.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This sense of solidarity extends into the rose garden, where a dozen or so common pests show up year after year — some in spring, some in summer, and some persist and bug our roses (and us) throughout the year.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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Chandler Zavala has been fighting the injury bug his whole career.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Southern California residents are voicing their frustrations over the cost of tickets for the LA28 Olympic Games, which event organizers have billed as affordable, especially after getting early access last week.—
Laurie Perez,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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For years, summer day camp registration has been a source of frustration.—
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irk. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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