as in annoyed
subjected to and reacting with irritation
irked drivers were honking and shouting at the cows in the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Zach Harper, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Edmund Fitton-Brown, a senior fellow at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) told Fox News Digital that Somaliland’s recognition of Israel and Israel’s recognition of it last December has clearly irked Iran.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
Its constant presence has long irked leaders in China, whose own navy has undergone rapid modernization and is now the largest in the world.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 16 May 2026
Cassidy has used his influence atop the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in ways that have both irked and delighted conservatives.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 16 May 2026
The critiques irked Pelosi, a powerful force in California politics.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Luigi Avantaggiato Italy’s use of the island for military purposes particularly irked locals.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
So what does a $77 rotisserie chicken say about the increasing wealth gap, the disparity between the leisure and working classes, and the overall affordability crisis that certainly irked those who balked at the price?
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
His comments evidently irked the White House border czar, Tom Homan, who is Catholic.
—Francis X. Rocca, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Adelman was always frustrated with anything that wasn’t basketball-related, and he’d often be irked by basketball played below its potential.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Edmund Fitton-Brown, a senior fellow at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) told Fox News Digital that Somaliland’s recognition of Israel and Israel’s recognition of it last December has clearly irked Iran.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
Its constant presence has long irked leaders in China, whose own navy has undergone rapid modernization and is now the largest in the world.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 16 May 2026
Cassidy has used his influence atop the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in ways that have both irked and delighted conservatives.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 16 May 2026
The critiques irked Pelosi, a powerful force in California politics.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Luigi Avantaggiato Italy’s use of the island for military purposes particularly irked locals.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
So what does a $77 rotisserie chicken say about the increasing wealth gap, the disparity between the leisure and working classes, and the overall affordability crisis that certainly irked those who balked at the price?
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
His comments evidently irked the White House border czar, Tom Homan, who is Catholic.
—Francis X. Rocca, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irked
Adjective
-
Two Indiana Pacers fans, identified as Grace and Michael, were caught on camera having a heated discussion in which Grace looked annoyed.—
Shakeia Taylor,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Fans were more than a little annoyed when large portions of season 5 of The Boys, ahead of its ultimate ending, appeared to be a large ad for the upcoming Vought Rising prequel spinoff series.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Even as Dylan maneuvers weightier situations like romantic rejection, or the uncertainty of a new leadership position, or feeling bothered that a promising student decides to turn her back on poetry, the actress brings a sense of humanity while embracing her character’s flaws.—
Candice Frederick,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
-
Gilgeous-Alexander, smothered and bothered, was a minus-13 in the period.—
William Guillory,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
The other models looked bored and even mildly irritated, as if their time were being wasted.—
Adam Turner,
Vanity Fair,
1 June 2026
-
Trump takes aspirin to maintain his cardiovascular health, causing his skin to be easily irritated.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
When Riley returned to the table, La La told me that his high profile in the city sometimes bugged her, because fans were always interrupting them, even sitting down at their table.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
Upon arriving at big-league camp this spring, Rojas said the different grip initially bugged him.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Brueggmann was more than good Friday, lifting the Warriors to a 2-1 upset victory over Marist in a Class 4A state semifinal game at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
-
According to the standings, this wasn’t much of an upset.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
During and shortly after the Spanish Civil War, Franco’s regime, too, persecuted Esperantists for the language’s association with anti–nationalism and anarchism.—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
-
Blanche, who defended the fund at a congressional hearing this week, has said anyone who believes they’ve been persecuted can apply for compensation regardless of political affiliation.—
Eric Tucker,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
An exasperated Tomás enters the thicket himself to retrieve, among other items, Liam’s boot, and doesn’t emerge until the next day—not screaming, but fundamentally changed.—
Nora Biette-Timmons,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Republican voters, the bulwark of the president’s political power, appear similarly exasperated.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Linda Hyde, a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards member since 2014, boarded her Southwest flight on May 21 at Miami International Airport humiliated and angry.—
Ella Moore
Updated May 29,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
-
Elder’s sculpture was sitting outside of Bee Hive KC over Memorial Day Weekend when a man who was visibly angry allegedly began vandalizing the honeybee, according to Elder.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irked. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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