as in annoyed
subjected to and reacting with irritation
irked drivers were honking and shouting at the cows in the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in bothered
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of irked
Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
That irked some who thought the city was sacrificing park space for cars.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
Illini star Dick Butkus, irked at reports suggesting the Big Ten champs were not in top physical shape, led his team on a postgame sprint around the field to show their fitness.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Washington and Taipei earlier this month announced what could become one of the United States’ biggest-ever military sales to the island, and Taiwan’s president is pushing for the approval of a historic special defense budget – developments that have irked Beijing.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Karp had never seen it and seemed mildly amused, rather than irked by it.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Yes, he was irked by what apparently were several players planning to enter the transfer portal despite another year remaining on their NIL contract.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025
The father had tried to insulate his son from Jesus’ influence – understandable, considering that many legends show Jesus causing the death of his playmates or other boys who somehow irked him.
—Mary Dzon, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025
Kipping had envisioned a recessed rectangle — which irked Gehry.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
Two things irked Berube about the way things got away from his team this time around.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
That irked some who thought the city was sacrificing park space for cars.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
Illini star Dick Butkus, irked at reports suggesting the Big Ten champs were not in top physical shape, led his team on a postgame sprint around the field to show their fitness.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Washington and Taipei earlier this month announced what could become one of the United States’ biggest-ever military sales to the island, and Taiwan’s president is pushing for the approval of a historic special defense budget – developments that have irked Beijing.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Karp had never seen it and seemed mildly amused, rather than irked by it.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Yes, he was irked by what apparently were several players planning to enter the transfer portal despite another year remaining on their NIL contract.
—Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025
The father had tried to insulate his son from Jesus’ influence – understandable, considering that many legends show Jesus causing the death of his playmates or other boys who somehow irked him.
—Mary Dzon, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025
Kipping had envisioned a recessed rectangle — which irked Gehry.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irked
Adjective
-
Virginia was annoyed to see her association made public and suspected someone at Rinehart had talked to Kilgallen.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
-
But that fun idea went south when Barlow became annoyed with her castmate Whitney Rose.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But something bothered her about the name.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Schultz said he is not bothered by the criticism marking his seven-year tenure at the $301,000-a-year post.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Some even combine vitamin C with hydrating or soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or peptides, so your skin looks bright and plump without ever feeling stripped, thirsty, or irritated.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
24 Jan. 2026
-
As an especially wooden James, Irvine moves through Silent Hill not as a victim unraveling but as an irritated participant weathering a string of weird, disjointed trials.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Feeling good Weathers has been bugged by several injuries over the last few years.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The comings and goings of the many planes at the little field bugged the Marine Corps brass and rattled the hens at the chicken ranch that was once right about where Cold War-era bowlers would one day rattle the pins at Frontier Lanes.—
Eric DuVall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Buss reportedly was upset with the way James dismissed his part in pursuing Westbrook and blamed others after the move failed, according to ESPN.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The 14-year-old’s girlfriend told investigators that Givens had threatened over Snapchat to kill her 1½-year-old son and that the 14-year-old was upset about it, the complaint says.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mattarella condemned the complicity of ordinary Italians in the fascist-era racial laws, which persecuted Italy’s Jewish community, and deportation of its Jews.—
Vanessa Gera,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The Kurds have been marginalized, persecuted and slaughtered by the likes of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and before those states existed, the Ottoman Empire.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
It certainly can be deployed sincerely, yet it’s almost always accompanied by a good-natured, perhaps slightly exasperated, shake of the head.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Let the Big Three ride out the final years of this glorious era together, with Kerr looking on, exasperated but content in the final year of his contract.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
24 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Grifters can be analyzed by affect (jolly, cold, angry, greedy, sad) and/or by gender.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Agents made several arrests in supermarket parking lots and at tamale stands while goading angry residents who confronted them and threatening to unleash tear gas.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irked. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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